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Education for Sustainable Development: Russian-Swedish Project

RUSSIAN SUSTAINABILITY NewsLETTER
Special Issue. April 2011
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This issue includes...
Visit of V. Putin in Sweden Russian-Swedish trade and economic relations Meeting of the Russian-Swedish Committee for Cooperation in Environmental Protection Prospects of the Russian-American cross-border reserve "Beringia" Environmental management in Russia: Rostekhnadzor Who is who in Russia: Rostekhnadzor Appointment in the National Park "Russian Arctic" Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society Anniversary of the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico

Visit of V. Putin in Sweden
On April 27 this year, Russian Prime Minister V. Putin made a working visit to Sweden. During his visit he met with King Carl XVI Gustaf and held talks with the Prime Minister of Sweden F. Reinfeldt. The focus was the Russian-Swedish trade and economic relations (see below in this issue). Among other important intergovernmental agreements the parties signed the Declaration on Partnership of the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Sweden in the name of modernization.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden received V. Putin at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Photo from the web site of the Russian Prime Minister V. Putin.

As a result of the talks, the two governments held a joint press conference at which significan t attention was paid to environmental issues in general and in the Arctic region in particular. It is essential that these issues were linked to innovations and Russia's modernization policy. The Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt said at the press conference that "Sweden welcomes Russia's modernization policy. We, too, have today signed a declaration on partnership for modernization. This, of course, means a lot to us, because it was during the Swedish presidency of the European Union that the same kind of document was signed between the European Union and Russia, and now ­it is already on a bilateral basis. ... And the cooperation concerns the environment, good management practices, innovations, and also space issues. I hope that the new agreements that we 1


signed today, these new areas of cooperation, will lead to deepening and strengthening exchanges between Russia and Sweden. We also talked about the fact that Sweden as a country shows the possibility of a combination of high economic growth with decreasing the load on the environment. And we hope that we can continue the discussion on this subject with Russia. "
Russian Prime Minister V. Putin and Swedish Prime Minister F. Reinfeldt at the press conference after the talks. Photo from the web site of the Russian Prime Minister V. Putin.

Speaking at the press conference, V. Putin said: « Of course, our focus has always been and always will be issues of ecology and conservation. It is in this regard we have spoken today and we intend for the future to pay special attention to our cooperation in the Arctic region. Both Sweden and Russia are Arctic countries. We now resume the operation of the North route through the Arctic Ocean - a very important traffic artery, which has good prospects for development, in this case also related to climate change: the time for navigation is increasing all the time. The economic feasibility of the movement of goods from Europe to Asia and the Pacific along the Northern Sea Route also increases. I am confident that Swedish companies active in these markets will be interested in cooperating with Russia in this region. In general, the Arctic is a very vulnerable region. From the perspective of nature conservation and ecology , the Swedish partners also have great experience. You know, we pay more and more attention to this in Russia, hoping to interact. In connection with the Russian Geographical Society we will be in Arkhangelsk in September of this year to hold an event called "The Arctic - territory of dialogue", and emphasis will be precisely on the development of transport infrastructure. We expect our Swedish friends to participate in this event."

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Russian-Swedish trade and economic relations
According to Russian and Swedish experts, the economic direction of bilateral relations is progressing well at present. However, in mutual trade, which could be more differentiated in structure, there remains a division of labour between Russia as a supplier of raw materials and fuel (85% of Russian exports) and Sweden as an exporter of services and high technologies (97% is finished goods including engineering goods, and telecommunication facilities). The practical issues of cooperation in trade and the economic sphere are handled by the Intergovernmental Russian-Swedish Steering Committee (SC) on Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was approved in 1993 (co-chair of the Russian side is Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, the Swedish co-chair is the Minister of Trade Ewa BjЖrling). Before the global financial crisis, the Russian-Swedish trade and economic relations as a whole developed steadily and dynamically. The influence of the unfavourable economic conditions and the falling global demand led to a decline in mutual trade in 2009, but the positive trend was restored already in 2010. In January-February 2011 the trade turnover between Russia and Sweden reached 1.05

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billion dollars (17,5% more than for the same period in 2010), of which exports amounted to 632 million dollars (3.2% less) and import to 418 million dollars (+73.7%). Among Sweden's trading partners, Russia occupies the 11th place. The bulk of Russian exports are: FEC goods (76,6% of exports), including crude oil and oil products; chemical products (14%), metals and metal products (4.9%); timber, pulp and paper products. In total, these four product groups make up about 98% of Russian exports to Sweden. The bulk of Russia's imports from Sweden is: machinery, equipment and vehicles (58,9% of the total volume), chemical products (19%), timber, pulp and paper products (8.2%), provisions and agricultural raw materials (3, 6%). The influx of Swedish investments to Russia continues. In 2010 the Russian economy received investments amounting to 834 million dollars, including direct investments of $ 125 million. Despite the global crisis, the Swedish big business assesses Russia as a country with great investment potential and a dynamic economy, characterized by growing consumer demand and significant reserves of natural resources. In 2010-2011, the decision to start or expand their business activities in Russia was taken by such Swedish companies as SЖdra (timber), Volvo, Scania (automobile production), SKF (bearings), SCA (hygiene products), Oriflame (cosmetics), Tele2 (telecommunications), ABB (electric power industry), Alfa Laval (engineering industry), Tetra Pak (food industry), VДderstad-Verken (agribusiness), and Astra Zeneca (pharmaceuticals). Priority areas of bilateral cooperation in the near future, marked by interaction according to the modernization agenda, are found particularly in the areas of energy, green economy, telecommunication, information, space and nanotechnology, medicine and education. The practical implementation of founding the Stockholm School of Economics in St. Petersburg, a branch of its undergraduate training that will prepare a new generation of managers, has started. The possibilities of applying Swedish experience, recognized worldwide as the best pairing of science and production, formation and operation of technology parks and high-tech cluster centers, in Russia, primarily in Skolkovo, are seen as promising. After the recession in 2008, there is a tendency towards restoration of the Swedish investors' confidence in the Russian stock market, and in particular to the SEC. Every fifth Swede has savings in shares of Russian companies. Every third SEK on the Swedish stock market is now invested in Russian equities. Over the past 10 years, the profitability of savings in Russian securities has become recognized as the highest on the Swedish stock market - in some areas the increase has been more than 1200%. More than 400 Swedish companies have been registered in the Russian market, above all in engineering, construction, real estate, trade, and agriculture. Among the biggest investors are IKEA, ABB, SKF, SCA, Sandvik, Volvo, Tetra Pak, Alfa Laval, Scania, Oriflame, etc. Volvo takes first place in Russia on the import of trucks (the fleet of trucks has exceeded 50 thousand) and has 25% of the market sales of foreign brands. The group has a complete cycle factory in Kaluga (from January 2009, investments amount to 140 million dollars) for production of trucks (up to 10 thousand heavy Volvo trucks, and 5 thousand Renault light trucks a year) and construction (in May 2009 the plant received the status of domestic producer). The Ericsson group has started to create, on its existing premises in Moscow, a research center for the development of software for mobile phones manufactured in Russia (450 people). At the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics operates the Ericsson Training Centre, created in collaboration with the company LM Ericsson. The Russian investments in Sweden are also gradually increasing. The total volume of Russian investments in Sweden at the end of 2010 was $ 200 million (the bulk was in transport, communication and metallurgy). Inter-regional contacts make a significant contribution to the development of contacts in trade and economics . The main interest of the Swedish business sector continues to be mostly the north-western and central parts of Russia. Moscow and St. Petersburg remain the centres of concentration of Swedish 3


business interests. Recently, however, the geographic boundaries of the Swedish presence in the Russian market have become much broader.

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Meeting of the Russian-Swedish Committee for Cooperation in Environmental Protection
The eleventh meeting of the Russian-Swedish Committee for Cooperation in Environmental Protection was held April 19-20 at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation in Moscow. The meeting was held under the Agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Sweden on cooperation in environmental protection of February 4, 1993. Head of the Swedish delegation was Ms Maria еgren, Director General of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). The delegation also included Lars Ekecrantz (Ministry of the Environment), Ulrik Westman (SEPA) and еke Mikaelsson (SEPA). Head of the Russian delegation was Mr S.E. Donskoy, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. The Russian side was also represented by N.R. Inamov, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as 19 other representatives of Russian authorities, research institutions and universities.
The opening of the eleventh session of the Russian-Swedish committee for cooperation in the field of environmental protection. Moscow, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, April 19, 2011

The agenda included the following key issues: - The current situation with regard to the programme for cooperation and the development in environmental policies in Russia and Sweden - The results of the bilateral cooperation in 2009-2010 and a review of the areas of cooperation for 2011-2012: Water and marine environment Nature conservation and biodiversity Environmental protection and BAT Education for sustainable development Cooperation in the field of climate change - Discussion of issues related to the implementation of the Work Programme of the Russian Swedish cooperation in the field of environmental protection for 2011-2012, including the strategic use of the environmental policy line and mutual benefit 4


- Signing of the Protocol and adoption of the Work Programme for 2011-2012. The sides discussed the priority areas for environmental cooperation, including institutional and financial preconditions for further cooperation. All parties noted the high efficiency of the bilateral cooperation and its favourable prospects. The results of the cooperation in the area "Education for Sustainable Development" were presented by Professor Yuri L. Mazurov, M V Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Mr е. Mikaelsson, coordinator of programs with Russia of the Division of International Projects at SEPA. It was reported that the first draft of the EE-01 pilot workshop on sustainable development was completed successfully, and that this area of cooperation is currently developing within the framework of the EE-02 project. The parties agreed that this area could benefit from closer cooperation with both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Education from the Russian side, as well as the Ministry of Environment on the Swedish side. Both sides agreed to inform each other more clearly about priority policy areas, as well as to be more actively involved in project implementation during 2011-2012. They also agreed to promote initiatives within the sub-group on cleaner production and environmentally sound consumption BEAC WGE (CPESC), and introduce a new project, EE -03/CPESC1.3, in the work program in connection with a possible benefit from the results of the work on EE- 01 and EE-02. It was decided to include the following projects in the Work Programme for 2011, 2012: EE-02 "Joint training course on sustainable development for students of RAPA and MSU" and EE-03 "Training course on cleaner production and environmentally sound consumption in the Barents region."

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Prospects of Russian-American cross-border reserve "Beringia"
On April 21, 2011 a meeting took place in Moscow between representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia and the U.S. Department of State. The sides discussed issues of cooperation in preparation for the next meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Protection of the Bilateral Russian-American Presidential Commission, including the creation of protected areas (PAs) that subsequently become part of the Russian-American cross-border reserve "Beringia". The Russian side was represented by Nuritdin Inamov, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, and the American side by Dan Reifsnyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science. The dialogue participants noted that Russia and the U.S. are successfully developing bilateral cooperation in the field of biodiversity conservation and management of national parks and reserves. In February 2011 a trip of directors of Russian protected areas took place in the U.S., a reciprocal visit of American specialists to Russian reserves is currently being planned, as well as D. Reifsnyder's visit to the Far East to share experiences. Separately, the parties discussed the preparations for the third session of the Russian-American Polar Bear Commission scheduled for July 2011 in Russia. N. Inamov stressed that in accordance with the Government of the Russian Federation, the Russian Federation will not use its own quota for polar bears (29 individuals) provided for each side by decision of the Commission. This decision is due to the national policy for the conservation and increase of the Alaska-Chukotka polar bear population, as well as the fight against poaching. The meeting outlined a strategy for cooperation in areas such as prevention of and fight against forest fires, the use of American experience to create the Superfund for the eradication of past environm ental damage, the implementation of the UNECE Convention on long-range trans boundary air pollution, 5


water management, the removal of contaminants in the Arctic, including soot, which reduces the reflectivity of snow and leads to an acceleration of its melting.

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Environmental Management in Russia: Rostekhnadzor
Rostekhnadzor was formed in 2004 through the merging of the Federal Service for nuclear supervision and the Federal Service for technical supervision. The functions in environmental supervision were transferred to Rostekhnadzor after the transformation of the Federal Service for supervision of environment and natural Resources into the Federal Service for supervision of natural resources. By the RF Government Regulation N 404 of 29.05.2008 Rostekhnadzor was transferred to be under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Rostekhnadzor previously reported directly to the Government. On June 23, 2010 Rostekhnadzor again moved to the direct subordination under the Government of the Russian Federation. The Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor, RTN) is a federal service of Russia, carrying out functions on the adoption of regulations, control and supervision in the field of environmental protection with regard to limiting the negative anthropogenic impact (including in the field of production and consumption waste management), the safe conduct of work related to subsoil use, protection of mineral resources, industrial safety, safety in the use of nuclear energy (with the exception of the design, fabrication, testing, operation and disposal of nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants for military use), the safety of electrical and thermal installations and networks (except household devices and networks), the safety of hydraulic structures on objects of industry and energy, safe production, storage and use of industrial explosives, as well as special functions concerning public safety in this area. In accordance with the RF Government Decree of February 1, 2006 54 the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision is an executive body, authorized to perform state construction supervision. Rostekhnadzor is the oldest authority in the area of natural resources in Russia. It has its roots in the Berg-collegium established in accordance with the decree of Peter I of 10 December (December 23 according to the new style), 1719. On June 13, 1806, the Berg-collegium was transformed into the Mining Department of the Ministry of Finance. Subsequently, this office has repeatedly changed its name. During most of the Soviet period of its history it was known under the name Gosgortekhnadzor of the USSR. Currently Rostekhnadzor integrates the activities of the once self-governed structures of governmental management, and provides: Mining and industrial supervision, Energy supervision, Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Environmental supervision and Construction supervision. The modern structure of Rostekhnadzor is represented by the following units: 1. Administration Office 2. Office for organizational control, licensing and permitting activity 3. Financial Management Office 4. Civil Service and Personnel Office 5. Office for regulation of the security of nuclear plants and nuclear research facilities 6. Office for the regulation of the security of nuclear fuel cycle objects, nuclear power plant vessels and radiation hazardous objects, supervision over accounting and control of nuclear materials and 6


radioactive substances and physical protection 7. Office of mining supervision 8. Office of general industrial supervision 9. Office of state construction supervision 10. Office of the state energy supervision 11. Legal Department 12. Department of International Relations and Protocol 13. Office of supervision in the coal industry 14. Office for the supervision of oil and gas facilities 15. Division for the protection of state secrets, organizing mobilization preparation and mobilization. Official publications of RTN: Newsletter (every 2 months), the quarterly scientific journal "Nuclear and Radiation Safety", and the monthly magazine "Safety in the industry." Web site: http://www.gosnadzor.ru. Public Council of RTN At Rostekhnadzor operates the Public Council, designed to ensure the harmonization of the interests, important for the society, of Russian citizens, businesses, associations and public authorities in the implementation of the Service's (Rostekhnadzor) public policy in the specified sphere of activities and ensure openness and transparency in the implementation of the Service's activities. The Council is an advisory body whose decisions are advisory in nature. The Council is currently composed of 45 members. The Chairman of the Public Council under the Rostekhnadzor is V.A. Grachev. The main objectives of the Council are: - Research, compilation of initiatives, needs and interests of citizens, businesses and public associations in the field of services and propose management services to implement them, including in the interests of improving the Service's activities in environmental, technological and nuclear supervision; - Conducting public examination of draft laws and other regulations in the area of the Service, and the preparation of proposals and recommendations on these projects; - Preparation of proposals for improving the Service's interaction with other authorities for the approval of initiatives, significant for the society, of citizens, businesses and public associations in the area of the Service; - Participation in the Service's work on organizing information for authorities and the public on the Service's activities. The Council has seven standing committees on the major areas of RTN's activities: - The Commission on public environmental supervision - The Commission on state energy supervision - The Commission on regulating the safety of nuclear plants, nuclear research facilities, nuclear power plants and radioactive facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle, supervision of the registration and control of nuclear materials - The Commission for the supervision of oil and gas production, processing and trunk pipelines - The Commission for supervision of special and chemically hazardous production facilities - The Commission on state construction supervision - The Commission on state supervision of mining and metallurgy.

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Who is who in Russia: Rostekhnadzor
Rostekhnadzor was from its inception in 2004 led by the former head of Rosatomnadzor, Andrei Malyshev, who for one and a half year served as acting head of the new service. From December 5, 2005 7


to September 20, 2008 Rostekhnadzor was headed by Konstantin Pulikovsky. At present, Rostekhnadzor is headed by N. Kut'in.

Nicholay Georgievich KUT'IN (b. July 24, 1965 in Leningrad) -- Russian statesman, the head

of the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) from September 2008. Graduated from the Moscow new law institute. PhD in Law (2001). At the end of 1980s and during the first half of the 1990s he served as assistant chairman of the Krasnogvardeisky executive committee in Leningrad, then in St. Petersburg City Hall as Deputy Chairman of the Committee for State Property Management of St. Petersburg. In mid-1990 he moved to Moscow, where he served as deputy head of the Russian State Committee for State Property Management (September 1997 - Ministry of State Property, 2000 The Ministry of Property Relations). On August 28, 2001 he was appointed Deputy Director General of the Russian Munitions Agency. From July 22, 2003 - Secretary of State - Deputy Director General of the Russian Agency for Conventional Armaments. On November 14, 2005 he was appointed deputy head of the RTN. On September 2, 2008 he was appointed Acting Head of the Service. On September 20, 2008 he was confirmed in his position.

Currently the head of Rostekhnadzor has six deputies: Alexei Viktorovich Ferapontov , Valery Sergeyevich Bezzubtsev, Boris Adolfovich Krasnykh, Vsevolod Borisovich Kuzmichev , Nikolai Anatolyevich Fadeev and Svetlana Gennadyevna Radionova.

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Appointment in the Russian Arctic national park
On April 28, 2011, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Yuri Trutnev appointed Roman Yershov director of the national park (NP) Russian Arctic. Roman Yershov, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, won in open competition for the post of director held by Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Roman Viktorovich Yershov was born June 10, 1982 in Velsk, Belsky district of the Arkhangelsk region. In 2004 he graduated from the Arkhangelsk State Technical University, majoring in forest engineering and green economy, and in 2006 from Arkhangelsk State Technical University as a lawyer and Ph.D. in biological sciences. From 2004 to now he has worked at the Institute of Ecology of the North, Ural Branch, where he has held the positions of post-graduate student, junior researcher, researcher, and senior researcher. He also participated in the project of creating the "Russian Arctic" national park. The territory of NP "Russian Arctic" has a total area of 14,260 square km and is located within the boundaries of the municipality Novaya Zemlya in the Arkhangelsk region. It includes a land area of 6,321 square km in the Arkhangelsk region in the northern part of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and the surrounding water area of 7,939 square km. In accordance with the Charter, NP "Russian Arctic" provides protection of the territory of the park itself as well as the State nature reserve of federal significance "Franz Josef Land", formed in 1994. The area of the reserve is 42 000 sq. km.

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Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society
In Moscow, in the building of the Fundamental Library of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographic Society on April 15, 2011, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RGS, V.V. Putin awarded grants to significant projects in the field of national geography. In his speech, the President of the Russian Geographical Society, S.K. Shoigu, said that patronage was a key driving force for the development of the RGS and the realization of its objectives, plans and objectives. "It is gratifying that this area is developing even today," emphasized the President of the RGS.

Speech by the President of RGS, S. K. Shoigu. In the presidium of the meeting are the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RGO V. V. Putin and First Vice-President of the RGO Academician N. S. Kasimov. Photo by Valery Potapov.

In 2011, among others, the following projects, received grants from the Russian Geographical Society: Expedition to assess the impact of natural and man-made disaster in Japan, Environmental monitoring and ecological map of Russia, Expedition to explore the current state of the New Siberian Islands archipelago , Congress of teachers of geography.

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Anniversary of the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico
April 20, 2011 was the anniversary of the environmental tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, which has become one of the largest in history. WWF is convinced that the lesson has not been learned and encourages the Government of Russia and the oil and gas companies to stop offshore projects in the Arctic. It took almost 3 months to remove the crashed oil well the in the Gulf of Mexico from operation. The company BP, which owned the sunken platform Deepwater Horizon, has spent $ 11 billion to fight the 9


damage from the spill. The oil spill was about 700 thousand tons. "And we are talking about warm seas in the southern latitudes, in which any work on the liquidation of the accident is many times more efficient and faster than in the harsh northern latitudes, says Alexei Knizhnikov, program coordinator of WWF Russia on FEC Environmental Policy. - Spill of smaller amounts in the Arctic will lead to much larger consequences." After the tragedy in the U.S. the world community has begun to more closely monitor the development of the shelf all over the world. What has then happened over this year? Shell has announced the postponement of starting work at the field in the Beaufort Sea at least a year. The moratorium on oil production in the Norwegian Lofoten islands, which are considered "nurseries" for Barents Sea cod, has been extended. However, according to the WWF, the company BP does not seem to have learned its "Mexican lessons" , although it makes beautiful statements, saying that there will now be more careful consideration of environmental risk. In early 2011 it was announced that a deal had been made between BP and Rosneft to jointly develop the Arctic shelf of the Kara Sea. The large plans were followed by a major scandal. As WWF found out, the license area, where oil production was planned, crosses the area of two protected areas - the Yamal reserve and the Russian Arctic national park. During the preparations of the work neither the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, nor the oil companies attached importance to such "small things". "This case clearly shows that BP treats environmental risk assessment just as carelessly as it did before the accident," says Alexei Knizhnikov. - As recently became known from Wikileaks, in 2008 BP had an emergency situation with a well in the Caspian Sea, which could have led to consequences similar to the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. At that time, fortunately, there were no oil spills, but no lessons were learned from the accident and the information was hidden from the public. " It is not only oil companies, but also state authorities of Russia that have not learned their lessons from the accident in the Gulf of Mexico. The Law on the prevention of marine pollution by oil, a concept that was developed by WWF back in 2009 after an oil spill in the Kerch Strait, has not been passed. This law should provide, among other things, the financial mechanisms for managing the consequences of the oil spill, which according to the experience of Mexico spills can amount to tens of billions of dollars. Meanwhile, for example, in accordance with Neft Shelf presented to the public its project Sea, in which the total insurance sum is only accumulated on the Prirazlomnaya platform our still acting, outdated regulations, in late 2010 Gazprom for development of the Prirazlomnoye field in the Pechora 7 million. Yet up to 120 thousand tons of oil are and damage can be enormous, says WWF.

"Bowhead whale, the Atlantic walrus, polar bears - these are just a short list of red-listed character species in the Arctic that could be affected in the near future if we do not suspend the expansion of the oil companies in the Arctic, says Alexei Knizhnikov. - We hope that the upcoming State Council on environmental safety in May will make decisions that do not allow the implementation of risky offshore projects".

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Sources: Press Services of the Russian Prime Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, RTN, other official sources, WWF Russia, own information.

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