Russian President says environment priority for expected new term
This was also the case "if black snow is falling, like in Krasnoyarsk, when people in industrial hubs can go for weeks without seeing the sun because of smog," he told lawmakers, top government officials and celebrities.
"It is hard to talk about a long and healthy life when to this day millions of people are forced to drink water that does not meet standards," he said during a state of the nation address.
"We have toughened the environmental requirements for enterprises in order to reduce industrial emissions," he added, mentioning new measures set to come into force in 2019 and 2021.
The address provided the first idea of Putin's policy priorities for a widely expected new term, after an election on March 18 that he is all but guaranteed to win.
ADVERTISEMENT
Smog is a major problem for industrial cities like Krasnoyarsk in Siberia and levels of fine, toxic particles that penetrate deep into the respiratory tract are recorded well above the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization.
Areas of natural beauty are under threat, including Lake Baikal, which experts say is undergoing its gravest crisis in recent history.
Environmental activists in the country have faced harassment and imprisonment.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Security, govt officials have turned banditry into business venture, Gov laments
Makinde signs monumental deal with Shell to build gas distribution network in Oyo
Tinubu set to commission 3 critical gas infrastructure projects
You won't believe how many Lagosians were arrested in 1 year for crossing highways
Man caught trying to smuggle snakes on plane — it's not the first time
Kwara public school wonderkid scores 95 in maths, 362 overall in UTME
70 plane passengers suffer diarrhea crisis during chaotic flight
Peter Obi sent a former Vice President’s son to beg me - Reno Omokri
Nigeria is first African country to acquire this device
ADVERTISEMENT
