The bi-annual Nevsky International Ecological Congress was this time, in the year declared by President Vladimir Putin Year of Ecology in Russia, co-organized under the motto Environmental Education – A Clean Country by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, with the support of the St. Petersburg city authorities. It was attended by 2000 participants from 36 countries.

The key objectives of the Congress are strengthening interparliamentary cooperation to promote environmental security, developing dialogue and exchanging experiences between government representatives, business circles, educational and research institutions and social organizations on issues concerning boosting the environmental efficiency of the participating countries’ economies, raising awareness on environmental education among the public and promoting healthy lifestyles.

On day one, in the thematic roundtable entitled “Clean Environment as a Safeguard for the Protection of People's Health”, National Assembly representative Dr Branislav Blazic spoke about the complex ties between man and the environment, the eco-system, environmental, as well as the impact of climate change on human health. “If we do not decrease pollution, the gas emissions behind climate change, redistribute resources and basic healthcare and contraception, we will suffer the same fate as the civilizations that came before us”, he said. He added that in the brutal 1999 NATO bombings, in 78 days Serbia was hit by between 50,000 and 90,000 of depleted uranium projectiles, which is about 15 tons of uranium. Since then to 2009 the number of people suffering from health issues has risen by 8,500, fatal consequences by 5,500, and the number of people suffering from leukaemia by 74%, while the fatal outcomes had risen by 139%. The global average of people suffering from malignant diseases is 2,000 in one million, but in Serbia after the depleted uranium bombing that number is 5,000 in one million.

The plenary session of the 8th Nevsky International Ecological Congress took place the next day in the Tauride Palace and was chaired by the Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko. The participants were first conveyed the welcome of Russian President Vladimir Putin who highlighted the importance of the Congress as an eminent authority which has become an event of note. He expected that the Congress would focus on “green” technologies, recovery of polluted areas, decrease of man’s detrimental impact on the environment and transfer to a model of sustainable development. The participants of the plenary passed a Resolution recognizing the global nature of environmental problems and the need for a broader participation of all world states to address them.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation organized a photo-exhibition in the parade hall of the Tauride Palace of landscapes of the most distant parts of Russia of exceptional beauty. The participants of the 8th Nevsky International Ecological Congress contributed to the recovery of the destroyed trees by planting 25 lindens and 25 lilac trees in the Palace garden, unique monument of landscaping architecture from the 18th century. The event was attended by the Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko.