International exhibition-forum «ECOTECH» aimed at efforts concentration to find systematic solution for the planet’s well-being took place on 12-14th December in Moscow. 10.000 people visited this event, where such issues like ecology development, overcoming global threats and forming «green» economy were discussed.
Lake Baikal Foundation CEO Anastasia Tsvetkova spoke at the session «Water: expanding the boundaries of cooperation» organized by the Federal Water Resources Agency. The session took place at ECOTECH in the framework of the V All Russian environment protection Congress.
In her speech Anastasia Tsvetkova reviewed international cooperation practices of water resources protection. The Foundation CEO addressed the issues of involving society in water resources management control, as it is stated in the UN sustainable development goal №6, which is devoted to ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.
This goal emphasizes the necessity to invest in water supply systems research and development, civil organizations’ efforts to ensure governments’ accountability, promotion of women’s, youth’s and indigenous communities’ participation in water resources protection. Anastasia Tsvetkova also mentioned the experience of civil society involvement in other countries and described some Lake Baikal Foundation’s projects that meet this sustainable development goal. For example, «Baikal initiative» or «With a backpack on the trail» that won presidential grants contest in 2017.
The main goal of the session organized by the Federal Water Resources Agency was to consolidate efforts and involvement of the broad public, civil and scientific organizations, as well as business community in solving water resources protection problems. The session was moderated by Wadim Nikonorov, provisional Director of the Federal Water Resources Agency, and Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, Director of the Institute for water problems by the Russian Academy of Sciences, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor – vice-chairman of the Science and Engineering Board. Among the participants there also were top-managers of the water reservoirs, representatives of the Russian informational-analytical and scientific-research water resources centre, as well as the UNIDO Centre for international industrial cooperation in RF.