Alexander Shadrikov presented the comprehensive experience of Kazan's environmental development at KazanForum 2025
Today, within the framework of the international forum "Russia – the Islamic World: KazanForum", a session "Ecology of industrial cities, or how to ensure the well-being of the habitat for the population of large megacities" was held, at which Alexander Shadrikov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan, delivered a report on the environmental development of Kazan.
In his speech, the Minister emphasized Tatarstan's leading position among Russian regions in terms of sustainable development and the integration of ESG criteria into activities. By the end of 2023, the republic took the second place in the ESG ranking of the subjects of the Russian Federation, compiled by the National Rating Agency together with Moscow State University, as well as the second place in the ESG rating of the Ecofon Foundation. In 2024, Tatarstan also holds the second place in the Ranking for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2024, 130 indicators were included in the Ranking.
"Since 2019, we have been actively working on the implementation of the national Ecology project, and since this year we have been working within the framework of the national Environmental well-being project. In 7 years, environmental protection measures totaling 17.6 billion rubles have been implemented in Kazan," said Alexander Shadrikov.
The report paid special attention to the largest environmental projects implemented in the capital of the republic. Among them are:
- Recultivation of silt fields of biological treatment plants in Kazan, located in the water protection zone of the Kuibyshev reservoir. For half a century, 4 million cubic meters of silt sediment have been accumulated here. At the moment, the project has been implemented by almost 90%. The completion of the project and the elimination of silt fields will improve the environmental living conditions for more than 1.2 million people.
- Reclamation of the Samosyrovsky landfill with an area of 14.14 hectares, which made it possible to eliminate the emission of landfill gas into the atmospheric air in 10 years in the amount of 39.2 thousand tons and improve the environmental living conditions for 343 thousand people. The landfill was reclaimed in 2023 with the introduction of an active degassing system.
- Reconstruction of biological sewage treatment plants in Kazan, which were among the top 200 major pollutants of the Volga River.
The Minister of Ecology noted the positive dynamics of environmental indicators: "Since 2018, with the steady growth of the GRP of Kazan by 1.6 times in comparable prices, there has been a decrease in emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air by 27.1 thousand tons or by 26.6%. There is also a decrease in the total volume of water discharge into natural surface water bodies by 10.7 million cubic meters or 6.1%. If we talk about Tatarstan as a whole, then over the past 30 years, with the growth of the Republic's GRP by 3.1 times, there has been a decrease in emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air by 143.8 thousand tons or by 25.6%. There is also a decrease in the total volume of water discharge into natural surface water bodies by 414.6 million cubic meters, or 67.9%."
Environmental monitoring is an important area of the Ministry's work. Kazan has five automatic air pollution control stations and two mobile environmental laboratories. More than 1.3 million measurements on 29 pollutants are carried out per year. In addition, the hydrochemical state of surface waters is being monitored at 15 monitoring points for 17 pollutants.
Digitalization of the environmental industry has become a significant achievement. Starting in 2024, every resident can see the measurement results from 17 automatic air pollution control stations throughout the Republic in real time.
In conclusion, the minister spoke about promising projects, including the work planned for 2028 to clear the Noksa riverbed with tributaries extending over 27 km in the framework of the national project "Environmental well-being", as well as environmental education programs, including the revival of the Yunnaty movement and the development of the youth environmental movement "It will be Clean", which in 10 years more than 10,5 thousand Tatarstan citizens joined.
"The experience of Kazan proves that consistent environmental policy, digitalization of environmental monitoring and the involvement of the population in solving environmental issues are key factors for the sustainable development of modern megacities," Alexander Shadrikov summed up.