The plenary session of the Northern Forum on the topic “Transport infrastructure in the North and the Arctic” ended at the republican media center “Sahamedia”, where experts discussed the possibilities of developing transport accessibility of the Arctic zone, both regional and international.
The experts took part in the meeting both in person and online. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent his welcoming letter to the forum participants; he expressed his support in organizing the forum. He noted that the Northern Forum can become a key platform for the Arctic Council to discuss sustainable development issues.
UN Deputy Secretary General - Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Inger Andersen said in a welcome video that the Arctic is one of the most vulnerable and least protected regions of the planet, prone to climate crises: “We need to protect the entire macroregion by combining the environmental problems of individual regions and what is happening in the Arctic into a single whole. For over 20 years, UNEP has worked with the Arctic Council on sustainable development and regional governance, providing scientific and expert knowledge. cooperating in the field of biodiversity and marine environment conservation. As the Russian Federation, working with the Arctic Council, seeks to contribute to the sustainable development of the region, UNEP is ready to support, together with the government, business, non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples, the protection of the Arctic, on which life on the planet depends. "
The President of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Authorities Muhammad Budra thanked the head of Yakutia for the invitation to the forum, expressing confidence that the innovative approaches and ideas that will be voiced here will make a significant contribution to the development of renewable energy for a safe “green” transformation: “We must ensure that measures taken to restore the economy do not run counter to fair environmental interests. "
The head of Yakutia, Aisen Nikolayev, greeted all participants of the Northern Forum, thanked international organizations, universities, partners, heads of state authorities, regions and experts for their participation, expressing confidence in further cooperation.
“Our republic is rightfully recognized as the center for the study and preservation of languages, culture, traditional way of life of the peoples of the North. The region has a unique transit potential - the shortest route from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to the Northern Sea Route lies here. On the air route of Yakutia there are cross-polar airlines connecting the continents. This is how we understand our mission and are ready to further facilitate the solution of the traditional partnership within the framework of the Northern Forum and international cooperation of the Russian Federation, "said Aisen Nikolaev.
He drew the attention of the participants to the fact that the topic of the plenary session - transport infrastructure in the North and the Arctic, meets modern requirements as never before.
“Transport infrastructure is the golden link in spatial development, connectivity of the territory of any country, achievement of an equal high quality of life for people. We, the Yakuts, historically live on a vast territory, this is our happiness - endless spaces with richest resources. This is our problem - territorial disunity, huge costs for colossal distances in the most severe climate in which people live on our planet. " The head added that the remoteness of settlements, the lack of year-round transport links, and a high rise in prices on the territory are typical for most territories of the polar and northern territories of the world.
“We are facing a common task - to overcome the problems of low transport connectivity that have developed over many centuries in order to reach a new level of development in the Arctic. I think that the search for the best solutions, based on the exchange of experience and the implementation of joint projects, is the key to success in the spatial development of the circumpolar territories of the world, "emphasized Aisen Nikolaev.
The first president of Yakutia, State Counselor Mikhail Nikolaev emphasized the importance of year-round air communication in the northern regions due to the lack of constant road communication, without small aircraft the Russian Arctic will not be able to develop at an accelerated pace. Further, he drew attention to the fact that the unification of the Northern Sea Route with the Trans-Siberian Railway should take place - from Tiksi to Yakutsk.
The famous scientist, research Professor at the Faculty of Science and Environmental Management at the University of California, Director of the Institute for Arctic Research (USA) Oran Reed Young in his speech drew attention to non-standard modes of transport, including virtual transport, which are of great importance for the well-being of human communities in the Arctic. These include issues such as providing broadband Internet access, developing telemedicine, addressing food security issues, strengthening local transport infrastructure in the face of melting permafrost, providing assistance in natural disasters - floods and fires, organizing scientific field research.
At the plenary session, Chairman of the Arctic Circle, President of Iceland in 1996-2016 Oulavur Ragnar Grimsson, director of the Russian branch of the International Consortium "Transcontinental" Viktor Razbegin, Norwegian economist, professor of Tallinn University of Technology Eric Reinert also expressed their views on the development of the Arctic zone, special representative of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom for the development of the Arctic Vladimir Panov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Alexander Neradko.
YSIA.RU
