Russian Antarctic strategy adopted
The Russian government last week adopted a strategy for the Antarctica. Now a strategy for the Arctic is in the pipeline.
The Russian Antarctic strategy comes just days before the country intends to adopt a strategy for the Arctic. As reported by BarentsObserver, a proposal for the strategic development of the Arctic will be handed over to the Russian Government by the end of October and probably approved by the end of the year.
Read more: Russia’s new Arctic strategy ready in two weeks
The Antarctic strategy includes the modernization of the country’s Anatarctic research stations and the construction of new polar research vessels, newspaper Vedomosti reports with reference to RIA Novosti.
The document covers the period until 2020.
A part of the strategy will be the elaboration of a federal programme on the strengthening of Russian national interest in the region. The Russian Hydro Meteorological Service (Rosgidromet) will be top responsible for the coordination of the work and the programme is reported to include the construction of five new vessels, a new specialized Il-114-100T aircraft and the reconstruction of the eight Russian stations and bases in the region.
The implementation of the strategy will facilitate the development of a monitoring system for regional environmental processes and phenomena as well as the increased collection of data about the state of the Antarctic environmental resources, a press release from Rosgidromet reads. In addition, the document will help create more accurate prognosis about climate change, facilitate the development of the Glonass satellite system, develop fisheries and help protect the vulnerable environment in the region.
