U.S. and Russia celebrate 40 years of protecting the environment together

US Embassy, Moscow, Russia    Translate This Article
23 May 2012

Press Release - On May 23, U.S. and Russian scientists gathered at the U.S. Embassy to mark four decades of cooperation to protect the environment. U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Sheila Gwaltney hosted Steven Kohl of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Academician Yuriy Izrael, and others from both countries—scientists, academics, government officials and members of Russian NGOs—who were personally involved in our joint efforts.

In the words of U.S. participant Raisa Scriabina, 'the agreement is a testament to the fact that Russia and the United States work exceptionally well together on issues that matter not only for future well being of our countries but for the whole of humanity.'

On May 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon and Premier Nikolai Podgorny signed the U.S.-USSR Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection. The agreement specified 11 areas of cooperation: prevention of air, water, and marine pollution as well as environmental pollution associated with agricultural production; enhancement of the urban environment; organization of nature preserves and their protection; the biological and genetic effects of environmental pollution; climate change; earthquake protection; Arctic and Subarctic ecological systems; and environmental protection legislation and regulation.

The agreement is still valid today, and is Russia's oldest agreement on environmental cooperation with another country that is still in force.

Thanks to this ongoing cooperation, thousands of scientists have engaged in joint projects. For example, U.S. and Russian scientists now work together at the Arctic observatory in Tiksi. At Lake Elgygytgyn in Chukotka, specialists from both countries were joined by German counterparts in a deep drilling project that is uncovering nearly 4 million years of climate and environment history from under the lake. The Sukachev Institute in Krasnoyarsk and Riverside Fire Lab in California are doing groundbreaking studies on fire behavior and the impact of illegal logging and climate change on fires.

In addition, longstanding data exchanges and scientific cooperation have helped both countries in many areas, improving our abilities to detect earthquakes, clean up pollution, and protect our forests from fires and disease.

Russians and Americans have learned from each other and helped both sides improve environmental protection over the years. The U.S. Embassy is pleased to host the celebration of the 40th anniversary of U.S.-Russian environmental cooperation and salute the important work of U.S. and Russian academics, activists, and government program managers—a rich tradition that will continue to help make the world a better place.

For more information on the celebration or on U.S.-Russia environmental cooperation, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press Office at 495.728.5131 or moscowpressmail@state.gov

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