Valentina Matvienko: "Environmental security is possible only through joint international efforts"

Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko presided at the meeting. This year the Nevsky Congress will take place on 28-29 May.

Members of both chambers of the Parliament, young legislators, IPA CIS representatives, St. Petersburg city officials and NGOs attended the meeting.

Valentina Matvienko stressed the importance of the Congress for conservation efforts worldwide. Its ideas and outcomes have been extensively used by environmentalists. The upcoming Congress will have a well-structured agenda and focus on green industry, instilling values of “green ownership”, promoting healthy environmental patterns and lifestyles. Building a sound legislative framework is a key element of environmental advocacy. As usual, the Congress will pursue solid legislative outcomes, added Valentina Matvienko.

The recent two years have been rich in bringing environmental laws up to date, commented Yevgeniy Bushmin, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, Deputy Speaker of the Federation
Alexey Sergeev, IPA CIS Council Secretary General, spoke at the session. He reported that heads of parliament, environmental ministers of the CIS countries, Russian regions, as well as various international organizations received the invitations to attend the Congress. The Congress expects at least 1500 guests from 25 countries.