St. Petersburg Conference Addresses Safety of Arctic Inhabitants

Participants in the International Research-to-Practice Conference ‘Security and Safety Service in Russia: Experience, Problems, Prospects. The Arctic as a Region of Strategic Interests: Legal Policy and Today’s Security and Safety Technologies in the Arctic Region’ discussed ways to reduce the risk of emergencies for the population of Russia’s Arctic regions, how to monitor hazards in the North, and the use of various technologies to protect residents. The conference took place in St. Petersburg as part of the plan of events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, which are organized by the Roscongress Foundation.

“The recommendations drafted as a result of the Conference will help to continue a steady downward trend in natural and man-made emergencies,” Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Galina Karelova said during the Conference.

In particular, the participants discussed the results of military-technical experiments for search and rescue support in the Arctic, enhancing the quality of weather forecasts using aviation, improving the legal regulation of first aid to victims in the Arctic zone, as well as the use of mobile robots and an underwater autonomous slider to predict emergencies.

The conference participants included representatives of various regional departments of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Sevastopol State University, and Tyumen Industrial University.

The International Research-to-Practice Conference ‘Security and Safety Service in Russia: Experience, Problems, Prospects’ has been held annually since 2008. The Conference has twice been devoted to the Arctic: in 2014 and 2020. The event, which was organized by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, was held at St. Petersburg University of the State Fire Service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Russia is chairing the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. A cross-cutting priority of Russia’s chairmanship is to ensure responsible governance for the sustainable development of the Arctic with a social, economic, and environmental balance. Key tasks for the Arctic include developing cooperation to prevent and respond to emergency situations. As part of its chairmanship, Russia intends to help strengthen cooperation in identifying and analysing the risks of natural and man-made emergencies, developing ways to prevent them, and improving measures to protect the population and territories against emergencies and fires.