The meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development dedicated to the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day was held in Minsk
On April 23, 2024, the thematic meeting of the Council for Sustainable Development dedicated to the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day was held in Minsk.
During the meeting, participants discussed promising areas of state policy in the field of regional development, including territories exposed to radioactive contamination as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, transformation of approaches to ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, medical consequences of the disaster at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, restoration and development of the affected areas of the Gomel region, excursion and educational solutions on the basis of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve and other issues.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Ambrazevich Yu.G. addressed the participants of the meeting on behalf of the National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that Belarus suffered the heaviest blows of the disaster that occurred as a result of the accident at the nuclear power plant in the city of Chernobyl in 1986: the zone of radioactive contamination affected almost a quarter of the territory where a fifth of the country’s population lives. Despite a number of successes towards the revival of the affected areas, as well as the special contribution of the international community, including the UN system, in the long term, part of the territory will never be habitable. That is why, “in 2016, Belarus took the initiative to keep the Chernobyl issue on the international agenda and initiated a General Assembly resolution – the need to continue Chernobyl cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations in order to achieve sustainable development of the affected areas in Belarus and in other countries”. Also, Ambrazevich Yu.G. noted that the main objective of this meeting is to exchange experience on the topic of minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster between the government, the United Nations Country Team, the non-governmental sector, and the business community.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus, Rasul Baghirov noted in his welcoming speech that international organizations, donors, the private sector, and public organizations have supported the recovery of the affected areas of Belarus since 1986. During this time more than 80 large-scale projects and programs with budget about 70 million US dollars were implemented in Belarus. Systemic, comprehensive government support and international assistance from UN agencies and donors contributed to the transition of Chernobyl areas from the status of recovery to the status of sustainable development. Today, these areas represent opportunities to demonstrate sustainable territorial development using a circular economy, ecosystem management and the conservation of unique natural habitats. Rasul Bagirov emphasized that “the UN will remain a faithful partner of Belarus with an impartial and universal mandate, experience, coordination mechanisms and commitment to the principle of “Leaving no one behind”.
“The fundamental changes that have occurred in the external circuit have formed a new reality that affects the sustainability of the economic development of Belarus. However, the national economy is proving its wealth” – notes the Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, the Head of the Intersectoral Economic Group of the Council for Sustainable Development Brantsevich T.V. Compared to 1995, real cash incomes of the population increased by 9.2 times, real wages by 12.4 times. In the structure of household consumer spending, the emphasis shifted from essential goods to services. In 1995, about 62% was spent on food, in 2023 – 35.4%. Belarus provides citizens with 100% access to medical services, very high indicators in the field of education, the highest levels of housing provision for the population, measures are being taken to reduce the gap in the level and quality of life in the regions, etc.
Also, there are positive trends in the socio-economic development of the regions affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. according to data as of January 2024, growth in production volumes in agriculture ensured in 28 of 47 such regions, in industry – in 30 regions, 43 regions operate profitably, 34 – with a net profit.
The key problem in the development of the affected areas is the reduction in demographic and labor potential. Compared to 2011, the population of these areas decreased by 9.8%. The country average is 3.4%. One of the decisive factors for improving the situation is the ratio of wages to the national average, as well as the comfort and safety of living in the regions. State policy in the field of regional development is aimed at their increase. These provisions are also reflected in strategic documents – the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2030, regional socio-economic development programs and government programs.
“Today the country has entered a new forecast cycle, and further development of promising areas of regional development will be carried out as part of the preparation of two fundamental documents: the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2040 and the country’s socio-economic development program for 2026-2030″ – reported Brantsevich T.V.
The main aspect in the sustainable development of territories affected by the Chernobyl disaster is the radiation factor. “2023 was very radical year in terms of making a large number of important decisions for the field of nuclear and radiation safety. Significant changes happened in the regulatory framework: The Law “On Safety Regulation in the Use of Nuclear Energy” was adopted, strategy for managing radioactive waste, including those of Chernobyl origin, the main directions for implementing a unified state policy in the field of ensuring nuclear and radiation safety were approved” – informed the Head of the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus Lugovskaya O.M.
Today, 40% of the Gomel region and 23% of the Mogilev region remain contaminated. This amounts to 12.8% of the total territory of the country, which contains 2022 settlements, 49 objects and 938 thousand people live, including 185 thousand children. 248.8 thousand hectares of this area remain radiation hazardous, 201.6 thousand hectares of which are in the Gomel region. More than 70% of radionuclides are concentrated in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. Among the measures to ensure security in these areas is the organization of a checkpoint regime.
The object of constant control in Belarus is the provision of medical care to residents of areas affected by the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Today, the affected population of the republic includes more than 1 million 300 thousand people, every seventh is under the age of 18. The most problematic issues are the aging of the population and the increase in overall morbidity.
“The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus pays special attention to the availability of medical care for rural residents, the quality and completeness of dispensary examinations, early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases, as well as conducting practice-oriented research and development in the field of health protection and provision of medical care to affected residents” – noted Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Belarus Tarasenko A.A.
The priorities for further activities to minimize the consequences of the disaster are improving the system of medical care and dispensary observation of the population, developing and implementing methods for the prevention of early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, improving the filling and development of the state register of people affected by the disaster.
As for the recovery and development of the economy, infrastructure and agriculture of the areas affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, it is worth noting the achievements of the Gomel region.
As a result of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, 20 out of 21 districts of the Gomel region were damaged, 357 settlements ceased to exist, about 40 farms and 216 thousand hectares of agricultural land were taken out of operation, 1127 settlements were contaminated, the number of affected population was 749 thousand people. During the period from 1986 to 2023, 33.9 thousand apartments, 134 schools, 101 kindergartens, 35 hospitals, 104 first aid stations were restored and functioning, 3.4 thousand km of roads and 1.3 thousand km of water supply networks were laid, 135 settlements were supplied with gas. Much attention is paid to strengthening the potential of agricultural organizations, creating jobs, the social sphere, and implementing special projects to develop the regional economy.
The largest amount of radionuclides in the Gomel region occurred in the territory of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. The public organization “Belarusian Green Cross” cooperates with the reserve in such thematic areas as mythical, natural, historical, cultural, man-made.
At the moment, there are two excursion routes around the Chernobyl region, and an informational and educational manual “Dnieper-Sozhsky Reserve” has also been developed. In addition, work is underway to develop an excursion and information manual “Chernobyl-40”, which will include excursion routes around the reserve, Braginsky, Loevsky, Narovlyansky and Khoiniki districts, maps, board games, online information resources with QR codes, etc.
In research of the consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster on human health, the World Health Organization (WHO) plays a major role.
“Among the tasks of WHO, together with government and international partners, is to support the health sector in preparing to respond to radiation and nuclear emergencies, helping patients with radiation conditions” – noted WHO representative in Belarus Sergei Diorditsa.
In addition, WHO regularly updates guidance on preparing for and responding to radiation accidents. In 2023, the list of medicines that need was stocked in case of radiation and nuclear emergencies was updated, and recommendations for their use were developed.
The recording of the meeting of the Sustainable Development Council in video format
Presentations:
Transformation of approaches to ensuring the safety of Chernobyl regions in the context of the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of nuclear and radiation safety
Transition from recovery to development of the Gomel regions affected by the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Excursion and educational solutions on the basis of the official environmental research institution “Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (PGREZ)”
