Within the study, the authors summarized the experience and analyzed the results of implementing Russian-European cross-border cooperation programs from 2014 to 2020 in the field of ecology and environmental protection. Using the examples of the Karelia and Kolarctic programs, a new methodology for assessing cross-border projects was tested.
According to the authors, it is in these two programs that the most advanced developments in the field of "green" solutions were used, aimed at solving local problems: providing the population with drinking water, water treatment and drainage, organizing the sorting and disposal of waste, and preserving biodiversity in specially protected natural areas.
Acting Director General of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Olga Bakhmet, highlighted the high scientific and practical significance of the conducted study.
— This publication is about the best environmental practices successfully tested in the northern climatic conditions of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblasts and the Republic of Karelia, and ready for replication in the Arctic regions of our country, — thus characterized Olga Bakhmet the result of the work of Karelian scientists.
Director Department for Liaisons with the Constituent Entities of the Federation, the Parliament and Public Associations (DLPA) of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Igor Kapyrin, highly praised the significance of the work done by KarRC RAS scientists in critically summarizing the "green" developments of cross-border cooperation and expressed hope that systematizing best practices will serve as a solid support in addressing local environmental problems in Arctic regions.
— Regional authorities and foreign partners within the framework of cross-border cooperation have gained unique experience that can and should be scaled up wherever possible across the territory of the Russian Federation. Moreover, there are no formal obstacles to this, as intellectual property rights to developments obtained under joint projects belong to the partner organizations, — emphasized Igor Kapyrin.
Scientific Director of the Institute of Northern European and Arctic Studies at PetrSU, Valery Shlyamin, who acted as a reviewer of the publication, expressed the opinion that today environmental risk factors are largely underestimated, especially in such a fragile region as the Arctic, where climate change occurs significantly faster than in other parts of the planet. Therefore, addressing the topic of international environmental cooperation is extremely relevant.
In nearly all speeches at the book presentation, the idea was voiced about the need for a dialogue between Northern European countries and Russia on environmental issues, the absence of which is already negatively affecting current environmental protection efforts in the Arctic. The refusal of foreign countries from coordinated measures and joint environmental monitoring in Arctic territories could impact the preservation of the unique but highly vulnerable northern nature.
