MOSCOW, December 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Over 2,000 delegates from 83 Russian regions assembled in Moscow on Monday for a fourth national conference on environmental protection.

The gathering has brought together representatives from local authorities, scientific and public organisations, Russian and international companies and the business community. The event will assess developments over the past year, delivering a platform for the environmental community to discuss key current issues.

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 economy and ecology.

Russian Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Sergey Donskoy said: “The three-day conference will consist of nearly 30 elements, including round-table discussions, panel debate and workshops."

The program also includes the first Youth Environmental Forum, an awards ceremony for advances in green technologies and a contest for journalists writing about ecological issues. The conference will last until December 4.