1. BARENTS EURO-ARCTIC COUNCIL WORKING GROUP ON ENVIRONMENT Russian Chairmanship 2014-2015 Maria Dronova WGE Chair

2. BEAC 12 th Meeting of the Ministers of the Environment Sortavala 24-25 November, 2015 Reports by Working group on environment Chair, Regional Working group on environment Chair and Chairs of Subgroups Separate sections on prioritized themes : Barents Environmental Hot Spots Nature protection Implementation of the Action Plan on Climate Change Adoption of the Ministerial declaration Chairmanship of the WGE transferred from Russia to Norway

3. Russian chairmanship in WGE Continuing the work in the five core thematic areas  Barents Environmental Hot Spots  Cleaner Production and Environmentally Sound Consumption  Nature Protection  Water issues  Climate change Focus on implementation of practical measures and enhancement of regional engagement WGE had 4 meetings during two years: Petrozavodsk (April,2014), Arkhangelsk (December, 2014), Naryan-Mar (June, 2015) and Syktyvkar (November, 2015) Subgroup meetings were held back-to-back.

4. Subgroup on Environmental Hot Spots Implemention of the Hot Spot exclusion procedure at the remaining 36 Hot Spots in the Russian part of the Barents region Promotion of the development and implementation of relevant investment projects Continuation of the close co-operation with the IFIs Strengthening the regional involvement Introduction of the new meeting format with the aim to promote hot spot exclusion: extended Hot Spot meetings in the regions with the participation of WGE SHE, WGE CPESC, regional hot spot exclusion groups, hot spot owners and international financing institutions

5. Hot spots excluded at the 12 th Ministerial Meeting in Sortavala 2015 A3-2 – Severodvinsk Heat and Power Plant (Plant №2) K4 – Drinking Water in Petrozavodsk Ko3-1 – Mondi Pulp and Paper Mill in Syktyvkar (Air)

6. Subgroup on Cleaner Production and Environmentally Sound Consumption project on education aimed at integration of training on cleaner production and environmentally sound consumption in universities within the Barents region and promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns promotion of the sectoral approach in hot spots exclusion process dissemination of information on best environmental practices (BEP), best available techniques (BAT)

7. Nature Protection Subgroup Finalization of the Strategy on Conservation of intact forests in the Barents Region Barents Protected Areas Network 8 th Habitat Contact Forum in Russia (September, 2015)

8. Subgroup on Water Issues and Regional working group on environment Regional WGE has the following principals item in their action plan (2013- 15): surface and drinking waters, biodiversity, metals and mining, awareness and information 4 ENPI/Interreg Nord -financed projects have been finalised  Ground water supply in Sortavala district  Forestry impact and water management in Torne International River Basin  Trilateral cooperation on our common resource the Atlantic salmon in the Barents region  Trilateral cooperation on Environmental Challenges in the Joint Border Area

9. - Climate change mitigation -Adaptation to climate change -Research, observations, monitoring and modeling -Outreach Overarching activity – Development of regional climate change strategies Implementation of the Action Plan on Climate Change for the Barents Region

10. Review of the Action Plan Sustainable development is a goal of the Barents co-operation -> continued attention to threats from climate change is needed Action Plan is a useful tool, updating is required Time frame: update 2016, activities for 3-4 years Involvement of BEAC Working Groups in updating process, Coordination by IBS

11. Interaction with the other regional organizations Close cooperation with NEFCO and NDEP at the hot spots exclusion process Arctic Council 2015-2016 – chairmanship of USA has many priorities that are close to BEAC WGE topics: e.g. black carbon, community sanitation, freshwater security Arctic Contamination Action Programme: e.g. dioxines in Arkhangelsk oblast Arctic Council PSI (NEFCO hosts)

12. . Thank you dronova@mnr.gov.ru Ministry of natural resources and environment of the Russian Federation