VIII Nevsky International Ecological Congress kicks off in St. Petersburg

The VIII Nevsky International Ecological Congress began its work in St. Petersburg. The forum is co-organized by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation. It will be hosted on 25–26 May in the Tavrichesky Palace.

Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko noted that problems of environmental education were of a particular relevance in today's world. “It is necessary to promote the standpoint which will make each of us feel personal responsibility for quality of soil, air and water we will leave for future generations. Shaping a fundamentally new attitude to nature will help prevent the emergence of global environmental crisis”, she said.

The Congress started with seven roundtable sessions: Building a System of Protected Natural Conservation Areas as an Efficient Tool for Preserving and Development of Biodiversity, Modern Framework of Environmental Education: Challenges and Areas of Development, Clean Environment as a Safeguard for the Protection of People's Health, Improvement of Complex Waste Treatment System: Open Dialogue of Businesses and Government, Ural: Ecology and Innovations, Harmonization of International Approaches to Introduction of Best Available Technologies and Current Challenges and a Possible Future of the Aral Sea.

On 26 May, the plenary session of the Congress will be held in the Tavrichesky Palace. Among the keynote speakers Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy.

Problems of environmental education will be discussed by heads of legislative and executive authorities, representatives of international organizations, business community, educational and research institutions, mass media and public associations of the CIS member states and other countries.

The Congress will work out the proposals to improve legislation aimed at further development of environmental education, strengthening of regional and cross-border cooperation in this area across the CIS countries, implementation of resource saving technologies, ensuring a healthy environment and improving people's living standards.

Thematic exhibitions and presentations will complement the two days’ work of the Congress.