The resolution of the International Forum "Eco Altai. The Thread of Nature"

The resolution of the Forum reflected the proposals of government representatives, experts of Russian and international organizations, scientific and business circles.

This year the Forum became international – representatives of 11 countries of the world took part in it. The event was highly appreciated, and experts also outlined a strategy for its further development as a discussion center for the most important international and Russian environmental initiatives.

The document notes the role of the Forum as "the main platform for public and expert discussion of the new Strategy for Russia's Environmental Security until 2050" and "the leading platform for discussing projects and initiatives in the field of ensuring environmental sovereignty, low-carbon economy, mechanisms of the national market of carbon units, as well as capitalization of environmental potential taking into account Russian priorities on international platforms."

Experts believe that Russia needs its own vision of solving global environmental problems and recognize the need to protect Russia's key natural advantages and use technological innovations. At the same time, the country's new Environmental Security Strategy should not only be Russian – it should be offered to the world as a large-scale alternative.

The resolution notes that the key topics for solving environmental problems today are issues of adaptation to climate change, responsible financing, greenwashing, and achieving carbon neutrality. At the same time, in order to implement a full–fledged model of sustainable development, the leading role of public administration is determined for its implementation on the ground and the complex interaction of all potential participants - society, the state and business already at the preliminary design stage.

The Forum participants recognized the need to intensify international cooperation in the field of sustainable development and active public involvement of Russian business in this topic. The resolution includes proposals for the development of cooperation within the framework of BRICS+, including between Russia and India.

Among the proposals also reflected in the resolution is the need to form a centralized principle for the development of ecotourism and launch network projects, including in specially protected natural areas, the application of "green" standards and regulatory legal acts.

Experts pay special attention to the issues of youth education, the development of specialized education in the country's universities with the inclusion of environmental education issues in the Strategy of Environmental Safety of the Russian Federation and documents of the state environmental policy. In their opinion, the environmental component is necessary for teaching social sciences and humanities in the country's general education system.

The Forum also developed recommendations for the Altai Republic in terms of sustainable development and conservation of the ecosystem of the region. They included, among other things: the introduction of a strategy for socio-economic and noospheric development of the region, the creation of a Park (cluster) of creative industries and green technologies, attracting financing for the development of tourism infrastructure within the framework of the national project "Ecology", improving the mechanisms of green financing of projects with the involvement of Russian development institutions, the development of the Eco Altai roadmap, as well as conditions for the development of medical ecology in the region.

The resolution of the Forum supported the initiative of the Head of the Altai Republic regarding the identification of Tomsk State University as the initiator of the Noosphere INTC project together with the Gorno-Altai State University and the proposals of the Gorno-Altai State University and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Altai Republic regarding the development and implementation of a pilot project to create and develop a system of continuous environmental education in the region.

International Forum "Eco Altai. The Thread of Nature" was held in the Altai Republic on September 29-30, 2023. The event is organized by the Government of the Altai Republic, the Roscongress Foundation and the Center for the Development of the Altai Republic.