Nine of 42 environmentally harmful hot spots have been eliminated in the Russian sector of the Barents Sea in the course of six years. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, International Cooperation Department Director Nuritdin Inamov made this statement at a meeting with cooperation coordinators of the Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region (CBER).

Russia chaired the CBER environmental task force for two years. In November 2015, the task force coordinator responsibilities passed to Norway. 

Inamov stressed that it is important to synchronize activities between Russia (the CBER leader on a country level) and Norway (the president of the CBER environmental task force in priority cooperation trends) in 2016-2017.

Particularly, he highlighted the importance of taking steps to further eliminate ecological  hot spots in the region, preserve biological diversity, conserve boreal forests and rationally use water resources. In addition, special emphasis needs to be placed on implementing the strategy concerning climatic change in the Barents Region in keeping with the decisions taken at the Paris Climate Change Conference.

Plans also include eliminating the environmental effects of the mining industry and dangerous industrial waste, and reclaiming soil.

The government will use financial institutions and available mechanisms in financing and development to implement the specified projects, as well as the resources of the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation.