VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
“While our discussion today is about the fate of the tiger, we are in fact touching on issues that are critical for the entire planet, humanity and its future. Using the example of the tiger, we are speaking about how to preserve nature. We are saying that human civilization can only develop sustainably if we take a responsible attitude to nature, our common home. We all have to work hard and join forces to ensure that this attitude becomes widespread.”
"A natural area's status as a nature reserve or sanctuary does not always reliably protect it from poaching, illegal logging or industrial pollution. I am convinced that punishment for such violations should be increased. On the other hand, I am sure you will agree that we should avoid taking it to the other extreme and closing the national parks to the public. One cannot be taught to love and value the natural world if it is only experienced in books and pictures."
“I have always supported the programmes aimed at reducing the negative influence of human activity on climate and the environment. I will continue to support, together with the Russian government and other authorities, every effort to protect the environment. But still, our work should be based on a realistic view of the situation, and we should rely on expert opinion. We have been paying so much attention to supporting the experts who are working in this sphere precisely so we can determine Russia's practical policy that will be based on facts and objective research data, rather than on newspaper articles, however much we may respect them.”
“Preserving nature remains, of course, a top priority. We must complete the job of amending existing legislation with the environmental agencies. That goes without saying. At the same time, it is clear that we need these changes as much as we need additional funding. We are currently in the midst of a budget planning process. So let us adjust our plans with this in mind. <…>Let us make the first step: let us allocate the necessary funds for 2011 and complete the job of amending the law at the autumn meeting of parliament. Any commercial business in our nature reserves is forbidden, and only partly allowed in the national parks. As I understand it, we will not overhaul these rules.”
“We’re trying to protect the environment as well as to restore what's been lost as a result of human activities. I have already shown you what's been done to restore the population of Caucasian leopards, which were exterminated in the Caucasus in the 1950s. We've reached further agreements with our Iranian partners, and hope to bring in a few more animals from Iran to implement the project here, in the Caucasus. It's strange that leopards can be found on the coats-of-arms and other national symbols of the North-Caucasian republics but do not exist in the wild.”
“The efforts of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) are an example of useful and effective cooperation in environmental protection. As the current HELCOM chairman, Russia is doing all it can to enhance the performance of this universal and one-of-a-kind international organisation. Successful implementation of the HELCOM long-term plan of action, which was adopted in Krakow in 2007, should become a model for environmental protection policies in the region. The experience we gained may be used to protect other bodies of water along our borders.”
“I would like to stress that we are willing to cooperate internationally on the broadest scale and engage in dialogue with all interested states. We see great potential in the initiative to establish the Partnership for Modernisation between Russia and the European Union (EU). Joint environmental projects will be an integral part of this partnership.”
“In 2010 we are planning to pass a decision establishing the Ingermanland Nature Reserve, which will contain several islands in the Gulf of Finland. This is our real contribution to the fulfilment of our collective commitments to protect the Baltic Sea.”
“We are making significant progress in reducing waste and air and water pollution - by more than 1% per year. We will increase the area of nature reserves and national parks by 11 million hectares by 2012. This is a colossal amount of land even for Russia, with its enormous territory. Today we have 55 million hectares of national nature reserves. We will increase this figure by 20% by 2012.”
“From the very outset environmental protection has been a priority for Nord Stream. We were guided not only by economic expediency, but also by commitment to the strictest international environmental standards. Some €100 million were spent on environmental impact assessments. Geophysical surveys were carried out over an unbelievable 40,000 square kilometres of seabed to find the optimal, safest route for the gas pipeline. <…>I can state with confidence that there has never been such massive environmental study in the history of the Baltic. Never has such a large amount of money been allocated for the environmental research on the Baltic.”
“It is important not only to realise the scope of problems but also take actual steps to address them, as my Finnish counterpart has just said, and take joint responsibility for the fate and recovery of the Baltic Sea. When addressing any economic issues and goals, it is necessary to take into account both the interests of one's own economy and people, and the interests of one's neighbours, as well as assess possible environmental impact on the Baltic which unites all of us. This is Russia's approach to implementing major infrastructure projects.”
"I take advantage of my current job to try to resolve the most acute problems in that area. Are you aware that our Red list includes many animals that are on the brink of extinction and extermination? Among them - the Amur tigers in the Far East of which there are only 500 left. That is a critical number. The Far Eastern leopards are in an even worse situation. Scientists estimate that there are approximately 50 to 60 species of leopards left. "
"We have made the first steps to the so-called green economy and sustained development. We have formulated strict energy efficiency guidelines. The government's development guidelines until 2012 and for the period until 2020 stipulate a series of nature protection and other environmental initiatives. Our goal is to fight pollution, rehabilitate land, and protect water and forest resources."
"The required level of APG utilization should be no less than 95% by 2012. Oil producers that do not fulfill this requirement and continue to burn it off in flares will have to pay huge fines for excessive air pollution. Oil companies must also have positive stimuli for developing APG processing. For example, electricity generated from APG could have priority access to the country's power grids, which would encourage oil producers to invest in the construction of new generating capacities."
"I would like to remind you that the Russian Federation currently holds the presidency of the Baltic Sea States Council. Just lately, several days ago, I signed off on the plan for the Russian Government's work as President of the Baltic Sea States Council. We are completing, have completed the practical work on the plan to improve the Baltic Sea environment for 2010-2012. It includes specific projects such as the building of purification facilities, including in the Kaliningrad Region."
"Our foreign partners, as a rule, are very sensitive to environmental issues and conservation. I agree with them entirely. In that sense the establishment of new, state-of-the-art enterprises in Russian regions will contribute to the responsible use of natural resources, help put an end to predatory exploitation of forests, and improve the environment not only in Russia, but in the whole north-west of the European continent. And this also holds for other parts of the world, for example the Far East."
"Russia supports the Finnish initiative of holding a Baltic summit in Helsinki early next year. I believe that its decisions will strengthen environmental cooperation in the region. Let me remind you that Russia currently holds the presidency of the Helsinki Commission on the Protection of the Baltic Marine Environment. Needless to say, we are ready to render our Finnish colleagues every assistance in the context of the future forum. I would also like to tell you that the Government of the Russian Federation has decided to prepare and launch a programme to improve the Baltic Sea ecology. The programme will cover the period of 2010-2015. It is based on the measures set forth in the Helsinki Commission Action Plan."
“Upgrading environmental standards, if the industrial facility already exists, should be a smooth process. We should consider the current economic and social environment, setting feasible periods for giving up outdated technology and for dealing with social issues which emerge while industries are upgraded. And we should create new jobs where the old ones are cut."
“Expanding cooperation with public environmental organisations is one of the most important points of the environmental protection measures package prepared by the Government. I guess you already have the draft of this document. After our meeting today, the necessary changes will be made, and I will put my signature on it.”
“We therefore pay attention to environmental programmes in our key strategy documents, including the Long-Term Development Concept until 2020 and the Guidelines for Government Action until 2012. It's about improving the law, measures to reduce industrial waste, waste recycling development and the revitalisation of polluted areas.”
