Russian President Vladimir Putin said he supported the work of young environmental activists contributing to efforts to balance economic activity in the Arctic with environmental protection.
In a message sent on August 17, Putin said the 5th Youth Environmental Forum-Festival, titled “Arctic. The Ice Has Melted,” was held in Naryan-Mar, the capital of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. He said young activists were supporting government institutions, local administrations, businesses and scientific organizations in the careful economic use of Arctic territories and the resolution of accumulated environmental problems.
The Clean Arctic project reached different regions
Putin said that more than 22,000 tonnes of waste had been collected as part of the Clean Arctic project. The project’s work covers remote areas of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug as well as the Kola Peninsula, Chukotka, Yamal, Pomorye, Krasnoyarsk Krai and Karelia.
The Russian president thanked the young activists for their initiatives, environmental awareness and strong civic responsibility. Putin also wished the participants success, expressing hope that the forum would expand its environmental work, attract new participants to its projects and generate ideas beneficial to the country.