Belarus, Barbados and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) co-hosted the high-level online conference “Harnessing Inter-Regional Integration for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The conference discussed Belarus’ “Integration of Integrations” initiative and opportunities for its implementation at the global level. The initiative is aimed at establishing sustainable contacts and dialogue, exchanging best practices of interaction between different integration groups.
The aim of Belarus’ initiative is to encourage regional integration structures and their member states to exchange views on the development of collective solutions to common challenges, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is designed to establish cooperation between different integration projects in practice. This process can be further developed at the UNCTAD-15 Conference, the 7th World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi this year, sessions of the UN General Assembly, and other international venues. It will serve as a common goal for greater interconnection and harmonization of integration economic projects in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Minsk City Technopark with the support of the State Committee on Science and Technology holds a contest of innovative and start-up projects Belarus ICT Start-up Award.
The competition gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their innovation project to international experts, potential investors, business partners and target audience of users. It will promote international collaboration of innovators, scaling of Belarusian developments internationally, as well as achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 9 “Industrialization, Innovation and Infrastructure”.
The nominations for the contest are “The Best Innovation Project” and “The Best Youth Start-Up Project”. The winners will be announced at the XXVII International Forum TIBO-2021.
At the the X International Scientific and Practical Conference “Problems of Regional Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus and Neighboring Countries”, which took place in Mogilev on May 13-14, 2021, the declarations of adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals were signed.
The Declarations were signed by the VMG, A.A. Kuleshov Mogilev State University named and Mogilev Fire Fighting Combine of the Belarusian Volunteer Fire-fighting Society. The Declaration confirms the principled position on the adoption of possible measures to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and defines the prospects of development of the Mogilev region until 2035, touches upon digitalization and ecologization of economy, social development of the region related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
With the active support of the Brest City Executive Committee and with the participation of experts from the SAQEM project (Air Emissions and Radiation Monitoring in Belarus) the Recommendations on the development of a transport strategy and sustainable mobility planning in Brest were prepared. The Recommendations were discussed and further action plan for their implementation was elaborated at the workshop with the participation of all stakeholders. Sustainable mobility is the accessibility of urban areas and objects, which become more inclusive in accordance with the principles of universal design. This approach increases the attractiveness of the city for businesses and investors, skilled professionals and young people, its residents and tourists. The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is the main tool for realizing these objectives, which contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 11, “Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements”.
The 16th National Environmental Forum “Involving Civil Society in Environmental Decision-Making” and the International Specialized Environmental Exhibition-Forum “Ecology Expo — 2021” will be held in Minsk on June 3-5, 2021. The aim of the events is to consolidate all sectors of society in addressing environmental problems, to involve the population in the environmental movement and to unite efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Visitors of the exhibition “Ecology Expo — 2021” will be able to explore the Belarusian and foreign innovative industrial and technological achievements in environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources, as well as to learn about the best practices for the development of green technologies. Technologies in the field of renewable energy, energy-efficient construction, green transport, efficient use of waste, bio-packaging, organic and environmentally friendly products, eco-tourism, the best practices of green schools will be presented. Improvement of environmental policy, development of green economy, closed cycle economy, low carbon development, adaptation to climate change, sustainability of ecosystems and mechanisms for the development of regional cooperation in these areas will be discussed at the National Environmental Forum. The events are supported by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, republican bodies of state administration, Project “Public Involvement in Environmental Monitoring and Improving Local Environmental Management” financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program in partnership with the Ministry of Nature and Environmental Protection, as well as other interested organizations.
The X International Scientific-Practical Conference “Problems of Regional Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus and Neighboring Countries” is taking place on May 13-14, 2021 in Mogilev. The following topics are discussed during the sections of the conference:
In their thematic reports the participants discussed approaches to implementation of the Mogilev region sustainable development strategy; support of regional population initiatives; elaboration of sustainable development strategy of Bobruisk city; education and science as a driver of sustainable development; youth education as a condition for sustainable development; possibility of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at a large industrial enterprise. An important part of the conference was the presentation of the Mogilev Regional Academy for Sustainable Development. The Academy is a part of the management architecture of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev region for the period up to 2035. The mission of the Academy is scientific, methodological and advisory support of the implementation of the Strategy. The Academy will become a consolidating platform, which will strengthen cooperation of educational institutions, enterprises, social business, public organizations and interested working groups.
The conference also presented the concept of the Chernobyl Investment Platform being elaborated with support of the United Nations Development Program in the Republic of Belarus. The participants discussed its importance for development of the regions that suffered from the Chernobyl disaster. In this way, these regions can become points of growth and help increase human potential.
On April 29 the National Coordinator on achieving the SDGs Anatoli Isachanka met with the SDG Youth Ambassadors, representatives of the national governing bodies who are members of the Sustainable Development Council and representatives of the expert and scientific community at the Belarusian State Pedagogical University.At the meeting, Anatoli Isachanka noted that the issues of youth involvement in the promotion of the SDGs are important for the whole sustainable development management architecture created nowadays in Belarus. Igor Karpenko, Minister of Education, drew attention to the potential of youth initiatives, innovative projects and opportunities for the development of youth leadership, and Rector Alexander Zhuk spoke about the promotion of ideas and practices of education for sustainable development in the activities of BSPU. Meeting participants also discussed the interaction between Youth Ambassadors and the ministries and agencies that oversee them, and supported the thematic shift “Youth and the SDGs” at the National Children’s Educational and Health Center “Zubryonok”. Read more about the meeting on the Education for Sustainable Development Coordination Center website.Photo: esdcc.bspu.by
By Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 213 of April 9, 2021, a Complex program of electric transport development for the years 2021-2025 was approved. The program is aimed at developing new types of environmentally friendly vehicles, their components and the creation of production facilities for their production. The use and production of electric transport is one of the important tasks stipulated in the Program of socio-economic development of the Republic of Belarus for 2021-2025.
The comprehensive program for the development of electric transport for 2021-2025 consists of two Subprograms: “Production and technological base of electric transport”. The purpose of the subprogram is to create scientific groundwork and production base to increase the number of used vehicles on electric traction in the Republic of Belarus; “Creation of charging infrastructure for electric transport”. The purpose of this Subprogram is to create a developed network of electric charging stations in the Republic of Belarus, providing high-quality and affordable charging services for electric vehicles, comfortable and unhindered movement of electric vehicles, as well as complying with international standards).
As part of the Comprehensive Program for the development of electric transport for 2021-2025, it is planned to:
creation of pilot experimental production of electric vehicles; development of state standards in the field of electric transport, its components and infrastructure, harmonized with international and European standards and (or) documents development of a normative legal act on periodical technical examination of electric transport charging stations development of proposals to adjust the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 92 of March 12, 2020 “On Stimulation of Electric Vehicles Use”; development of regulatory legal acts to improve the procedure for public procurement and procurement at their own expense of wheeled vehicles with electric motors, their components, charging and service infrastructure facilities; improvement of lending terms for the purchase of electric vehicles sold by official dealers to individuals in the territory of the Republic of Belarus; exemption of participants of road traffic with electric cars from charging for the use of parking lots that are in municipal ownership.
Detailed information about the Complex program of electric transport development for 2021-2025 can be found at pravo.by and minprom.gov.by.
The implementation of the 2021-2025 Complex program of electric transport development will significantly contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy”, 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production”, 13 “Combating Climate Change”,15 “Preserving Terrestrial Ecosystems”.
In March 2021, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus together with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus and national experts developed a preliminary Action Plan to establish a carbon management system in the Republic of Belarus.
The systemic measures envisaged in the Plan will support the competitiveness of domestic products in global markets that are transitioning to more environmentally friendly technologies. In particular, the European Union from 2023 carbon tax on imports of goods. This is a form of pollution tax that is levied on the carbon content of fuels-primarily coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas-usually in the transportation and energy sectors.
From April 19 to 25, 2021 the VI Entrepreneurship Week took place in Belarus with the support of the Government. The Entrepreneurship Weeks are included in the State Program of Small and Medium Business Development for 2021-2025. The VI Entrepreneurship Week became a dialogue platform for a wide range of the interested parties on the urgent issues of the Belarusian business. The VI Entrepreneurship Week included 150 events throughout the country, including the event “Demonstrate Your Business”, the presentation of the results of the Index of Business Optimism, the Third National Business Forum “Entrepreneurship Development in Belarus: Strategy. Priorities. Consolidation Prospects” and awarding the winners of the national contest “Best City (District) and Region for Business in Belarus-2020”. The results of the contest and other results of the VI Entrepreneurship Week can be found on the website of the “Economic Newspaper”. The development of entrepreneurship contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, 9 “Industrialization, Innovation and Infrastructure”, 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” and others.
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