RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Federal Law No. 7 of 2002 on the Protection of the Environment (2021 Ed.)

Meta Data
Title in national language: 
Федеральный закон от 10.01.2002 г. №7-ФЗ "Об охране окружающей среды" (в ред. от 30.12.2021 г.)
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Draft Year: 
2002
Effective Start Year: 
2021
Scope: 
National
Document Type: 
Law
Economic Sector: 
Multi-Sector, Other
Energy Types: 
All, Other
Issued by: 
Adopted by the State Duma - Lower House of the Federal Assembly, endorsed by the Federal Council - Upper House of the Federal Assembly
Notes: 
No English translation available
Source: 
Regulatory Database 'Consultant Plus' (RU)
File: 
Federal Law No.7 of 2002 on the Protection of the Environment (2021 Ed.) (RU)
Overall Summary: 
The present Federal Law introduces a set of norms and regulations governing protection of the environment in the Russian Federation. Referring to Russia's Constitution, it emphasizes that every citizen has environmental rights as well as obligations to preserve natural resources and the environment, use in a sustainable manner the resources considered the backbone of national economy and the sustainable development. Mainstreaming environment in the national development strategy is the primary objective of the present Federal Law seeking to develop balanced solutions to existing tasks of economic and social development, to ensure preservation of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity for the needs and well-being of future generations. The structure of the document embraces the main areas of environmental regulation: chapter 1. General Provisions, chapter 2. Fundamentals of Environmental Protection Administration, chapter 3. Rights and Duties of Citizens, Public and Other Non-commercial Associations in the Field of Environmental Protection, chapter 4. Economic Regulation in the Field of Environmental Protection, chapter 5. Norm Setting in the Field of Environmental Protection, chapter 6. Assessment of Impacts on the Environment, chapter 7. Environmental Protection Provisions Applicable in case of Pursuance of Economic and Other Activities, chapter 8. Zones of Environmental Disaster and Emergency Situations, chapter 9. Facilities under Special Protection, chapter 10. State Environmental Monitoring, chapter 11. State Control over Protection of the Environment, chapter 12. Research on Protection of the Environment, chapter 13. Principles for Building a Culture of Environmental Responsibility, chapter 14. Liability in Case of Non-compliance with Environmental Legislation, chapter 15. International Cooperation, chapter 16. Conclusive Provisions.
Renewable Energy
RE reductions in taxes: 
Chapter IV ‘Economic Regulation in the Field of Environmental Protection' introduces tax relief schemes for the development of unconventional sources of energy and innovative technologies.
Environment
Energy environmental priorities: 
Art. 17. Given the considerable financing needs, state environmental policy aims to raise financing for the development and introduction of advanced technologies reducing adverse impacts on the environment.
Gas flaring: 
Art. 17 stresses the need to promote technologies for reduction of gas flaring, carbon capture and storage.
Cooperation in env.: 
Chapter XV. International Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection. The Russian Federation shall pursue international соoperation in the field of environmental protection ensuring coherence with the generally accepted principles and norms of international law and international treaties of the Russian Federation on protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources, e.g., the Agreement on Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the Field of Ecology and Protection of the Environment of 8 February 1992.
Investment
Energy sector investment priorities: 
Art. 17. Given the considerable financing needs, state environmental policy aims to raise financing for the development and introduction of advanced technologies reducing adverse impacts on the environment.
Project permitting: 
Governance
National policy structure: 
Art. 2. Regulatory frameworks on protection of the environment are set by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the present Federal Law, other federal laws and regulatory acts of the Russian Federation, laws and regulatory acts of Russian regions adopted pursuant thereto. --- The present law is effective throughout the whole territory of the Russian Federation, is effective on the continental shelf and in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation in keeping with the norms of international law and federal laws. The Federal Law is aimed at protection and preservation of the marine environment. ---- Legal relations on protection and the sustainable use of natural resources shall be governed by the international treaties of the Russian Federation, land, water and forestry legislation, regulatory acts on subsoil, protection and conservation of natural resources. ---- The legal relations on protection of the environment and related to sanitary regulation shall be governed by sanitary legislation of the Russian Federation.
Energy institutional structures: 
The economic and other activities of the governmental bodies of the Russian Federation, the governmental bodies of Russian regions, local government bodies, legal entities and natural persons effecting the environment shall be pursued on the basis of the below principles: observance of environmental rights of citizens; protection, reproduction and conservation of natural resources - an indispensable prerequisite for ensuring environmental safety, compulsory assessment of possible impacts on the environment prior to carrying out economic or other type of activity, preservation of biological diversity, pursuance of integrated and individual approaches to setting environmental protection standards, observance of equal right for access to reliable and comprehensive information on the environment, development of environmental sustainability culture, strengthening international cooperation on the environment, etc.
Technology
Clean energy technology priorities: 
Art. 17. Given the considerable financing needs, state environmental policy aims to raise financing for the development and introduction of advanced technologies reducing adverse impacts on the environment.---The Law covers nuclear waste management and treatment, stresses that implementation of effective waste management systems is expected to bring numerous benefits. An emphasis is placed on the obligatory rules for manufacture, storage, transportation, use and disposal of radioactive substances (sources of ionizing radiation) and nuclear materials.
Natural gas transportation technology: 
Art. 46 focuses on the placement, design, construction, modification, commissioning, and operation of oil and gas production facilities and the facilities for processing, transportation, storage and selling of gas and petroleum products. It is obligatory to ensure that effective and appropriate purification and waste management systems are put in place in production processes.
R&D energy efficiency: 
Chapter 12. Research and development activities will be carried out to promote social, economic and environmentally sound development. It is underscored that a scientific foundation shall be developed for protection of the environment, sustainable and efficient use of natural resources.