Event news

“The Baltic Sea Day” is a scientific, applied and organizational event of the international format, attended by experts, representatives of business and public organizations, federal and regional government departments from the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The event is supervised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, with support of the Government of Saint Petersburg, and is also included in the Work Plan of the Maritime Board under the Government of the Russian Federation.

This year the Forum program is focused on the experience exchange between the maritime regions of Russia. Taking into account the vast geography of our country, the accumulated experience and the similar range of issues to be solved, experts share on this venue their achievements in the fight for the safe marine environment.

Opening the event, First Deputy Head of the Administration of the Governor of Saint Petersburg Mikhail Petrov greeted participants of the event on behalf of the Governor of Saint Petersburg Aleksandr Beglov and Vice-Governor of Saint Petersburg, the Head of the Administration of the Governor of Saint Petersburg Valery Pikalyov.

“Saint Petersburg, as the largest city located on the Baltic catchment area, takes necessary legislative, administrative and other measures for promoting ecological restoration of the Baltic Sea area, and preserving its ecological balance, including those in framework of international liabilities in force,” he said in his speech, expressing confidence that “The 23rd Baltic Sea Day” would contribute to formation of a common view on sustainable development of the maritime regions, and mutually beneficial cooperation aimed at achieving common goals.

Russia has the longest maritime border — about 61 thousand km, and is washed by 13 seas, is a party to international treaties on protection of the Baltic, Black, Caspian Seas, the north-western area of the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean,” Natalia Tretyakova, the Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Climate Change of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, reminded the audience.

Addressing the audience of the Forum, the expert stressed significance of the Baltic Sea Day for the expert and scientific community: “Experience gained by Saint Petersburg and other maritime regions of Russia has begun to be applied in the fields of introducing innovative approaches and using modern digitalization technologies. I am sure that the Forum will confirm the postulate that nature knows neither borders nor nationalities.”

Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resource Management, Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety Aleksandr German noted that such events consolidate scientific community, and the city reaches new agreements with other constituent entities of the Russian Federation that have access to sea.

Thus, the head of the department made a reference to conclusion of the agreement on preservation and recovery of the Baltic Water System initiated by the Committee, which was signed after the plenary session by the heads of relevant state authorities of seven regions located in the catchment areas of the Baltic water system: St. Petersburg, the Republic of Karelia, Leningrad, Kaliningrad, Pskov, Novgorod and Vologda Regions.

Admiral Tin Aung San, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, addressed the Forum participants with his welcoming speech, in which he outlined significance and readiness of cooperation in preservation of water resources.

“Everyone has the same environmental problems, but their solutions are different. This Forum will allow sharing our experience, learning about best technologies and approaches,” said Ivan Serebritsky, moderator of the event, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resource Management, Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety.

He also recalled that during 3 days of the Forum, 9 events will be held, at which experts will discuss current trends in the field of environmental protection, as well as present ideas and proposals for its restoration and preservation.

The traditional finale of the plenary session was the award ceremony for contribution to development of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region by the Vernadsky Foundation. The prizes were awarded to Daria Ryabchuk, the Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, the Head of the Department of the A.P. Karpinsky All-Russian Scientific Research Geological Institute, Tatiana Eremina, Director of the Institute of Hydrology and Oceanology of the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RGGMU), and Artem Pavlovsky, the Head of the Department of Urban-Ecological Substantiation for Development of Territories of Saint Petersburg SPb GKU “Research and Design Center of the Master Plan of Saint Petersburg.”