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Russian PM greets environmental congress, urges to focus on ‘green economy’

MOSCOW, December 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has sent a message of greetings to the participants in and guests of the fourth national conference on environmental protection, which is currently underway in Moscow.

“Agenda items include environmental protection, effective use of natural resources and ecological safety of the country. Ways of addressing these problems determine to a great extent the health of millions. That is why these questions are high on the list of the Russian government’s priorities,” the message says.

Medvedev described the ongoing meeting as one of the most large-scale events of 2013, which was declared Environmental Protection Year in Russia.

The congress brought together representatives from the local authorities, scientific and public organisations, Russian and international companies and the business community.

Medvedev is convinced that “it is necessary today to actively implement modern environmental and energy-saving technologies and standards of ‘green economy’, to improve the appropriate legal framework and to pay special attention to environmental education in the country”.

“It is important that proposals made at the conference will be needed in practice,” Medvedev said. He wished all the participants success and productive discussions.

The conference, which will last for three days until December 4, will consist of nearly 30 specific events, including round-table discussions, panel debate and workshops. Agenda items include development of legal institutions for environmental impact assessment, climate change, protection of the ozone layer, implementation of green standards for building construction and interaction between the economy and ecology.

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