Press Release, photographs, 05. 04. 2014

The second theoretical and practical conference called “The unsolved environmental problems of Moscow and the Moscow region” where YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Chair of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction Alexei Yablokov participated was conducted in Moscow.

The experts discussed the basic environmental problems of the Moscow region: air, water, natural and green spaces, biodiversity, transport, construction, health and so on.

Forty five experts and activists  including the representatives of all the administrative districts of Moscow and the Moscow region made reports on the main environmental problems of Moscow and the Moscow region.

Head of the environmental protection laboratory at the All-Russian scientific and research institute of environmental protection Boris Samoylov said that there had been no changes since the first conference had taken place. The nature is still considered as an object of profit and entertainment and Moscow still exists on the account of the environmental capital of the second half of the 20th century. Only political solutions can make a difference.

Alexei Yablokov

Alexei Yablokov believes that the authorities  act slyly by making statements on the improvement of the environmental situation but don’t take any measures.  This way the project on the cut of industrial estates in Moscow and growth of green zones failed.

The environmental performance in Moscow is in terrible condition, said the scientist. Only thirty hazardous substances are under control for today when six hundred are thrown out.

“The air pollution level goes beyond the limit. One hundred percent of Muscovites are in the conditions of strong pollution. About five percent of water exceed medical and chemical norms which is unacceptable for the capital. Strong soil pollution takes place in some of the districts of Moscow,” explained Alexei Yablokov.

According to the environmentalist, the health of the citizens is the key to understanding the environmental problems. Moscow is leading in a number of diseases (prostate cancer, stenocardia) which shows the situation directly.

Sergei Mitrokhin

Yablokov said that there should be statistics not only in the districts but in the municipalities for the further development of the research. The health index can later elicit unfavourable environmental zones.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin concentrated on the problem of greenery in Moscow which is on of the sharpest problems. He reminded that according to the World Health Organisation, at least half territory of  Moscow should be covered with greenery which is obviously not like that.

The territory of the specially protected nature areas in Moscow make only nineteen thousand ha and the natural complex yet thirteen thousand ha, which in total makes only thirty two thousand. If we divide it by the number of Moscow citizens (about 12 millions), we’ll see that only twenty square meters are secured per one citizen for today,” explained YABLOKO leader and also added that the calculations are optimistic  as lots of natural areas are used for other purposes.

YABLOKO’s inspection in the Losiny Ostrov [park and natural reservation] showed that the most of the territory is used for other agendas: there are plenty of illegal parking spaces, trash dumps and industrial zones.

YABLOKO leader reminded that Moscow general outlay ensures the increase of greenery spaces, creation of large greenery objects, reservation of a part of the city for green plantations. But nothing is done in practice.

On the contrary, the specially protected nature areas went through more than 200 corrections and lost 1500 ha during the recent years. As a result the active road construction, infill development, construction of religious buildings take place at natural complexes.

The environmental legislation degrades year after year. The possibility of deforestation was simplified.

YABLOKO leader said that the annual conference was not enough and the permanently acting committee on environment protection under aegis of YABLOKO and the Communist party should be created.

YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction, the Public Environmental Organisations Union, Moscow City Community for Environment Protection and the Communist party in the State Duma organised the conference.