UNIDO Centre at the 9th International Forum “Ecology”

April 02, 2018

On 22 March 2018, the 9th International Forum “Ecology”, held annually under the patronage of the State Duma Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection, opened in Moscow. The aim of the Forum is to support the creation and development of favorable conditions for the improvement of environment in Russia through an inclusive dialogue between the Government, civil society and business.

Within the two-day event more than 1200 participants gathered to take part in working and panel sessions and discuss Russia’s sustainable development, ways to reduce the negative impact of industry on the country’s environment, establishment of a waste management system, conservation and reproduction of bioresources, introduction of „green“ technologies, renewable energy, public awareness raising on environmental issues.

Sergey Korotkov, Director of the UNIDO Centre in Russia, participated as a speaker in a panel session devoted to the theme of „green“ financial instruments use.

In his presentation, he spoke about a number of UNIDO projects aimed to support the development of a “green” industry in Russia and financed, among other sources, by various environmental funds.

These projects are intended to develop market mechanisms for increasing the efficiency of energy-intensive industries in Russia, phase out consumption of HCFCs and encourage the transition to energy-efficient refrigeration and climate equipment in the Russian Federation, environmentally sound management and final disposal of PCBs at the Russian railroad network and other PCBs owners.

Besides, the Center is working on developing investment promotion projects. An example is the project “E-Waste Academy for CIS countries”, under which two specialized training courses were organized in Moscow and Alma Ata. The courses were aimed to create conditions for the development of an expert community with sufficient knowledge to elaborate and implement waste management systems for electronic and electrical equipment in the CIS.

The UNIDO Center is currently looking for new approaches to attraction of funding for Russian projects focusing on development of import substitution and application of innovative solutions in the country’s industry.

Sergey Korotkov highlighted as very promising the financing of Russian projects by such international financial institutions as the International Investment Bank, the BRICS’ New Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

“The UNIDO Center is ready to provide comprehensive support to prospective Russian projects in the field of industrial development in obtaining the necessary funding from development banks”, he noted.