Our vision
Pushkin is a model eco-city for Russia, the window to Europe for introduction of integrated practices for sustainable urban development.
On Pushkin-case, we want to show how to maintain and improve the quality of the urban environment and the life of citizens during the development of cities.
The experience gained is to be broadcast for other cities of our country.
The goal of the Ekograd-Pushkin project is to develop and implement the concept of the development of the town Pushkin, which will give impetus to the sustainable development of a small Russian city.
In our opinion, in order to spur the sustainable development of Russian cities, it will be useful to create a model “eco-city”, where representatives of other towns and cities could come to see how issues of the present can be adressed.
We invite Russian and foreign professionals and enthusiasts of eco-development, business, scientific and public organizations, active citizens and responsible authorities to join.
Together we will make Pushkin a pilot project for planning and implementing a sustainable development strategy for the Russian city. The experience gained will be a valuable tool in the eco-modernization of other small cities in the country.
Our why
Cities have become the main element connecting man and his natural habitat.
Cities have a strong impact on the environment: they consume natural resources, displace natural ecosystems. The quality of the urban environment determines the physical and psychological health of a person.
Sustainable urban development is a real factor in economic growth and social harmony.
One of the global problem is that the quality of the human environment, nature, is declining. The human environment is degrading, adversely affecting human health.
To preserve the health of the population of the Earth in the interests of every person. To solve this problem, it is necessary to change the usual paths of development from the scale of an individual apartment to a planetary one.
Russia announced a course for sustainable development in 2018. Vladimir Putin approved by May decrees the development plan of the country until 2024. Thus, the country is facing global goals to increase life expectancy, improve the quality of public health and preserve Russian nature in order to save people's lives.
Russia is one eigth of the land and on the 9th place among all countries in terms of the world's population. Moreover, about 75% of the population of Russia lives in cities. The country has the resources and potential to address the challenges of sustainable development. The development patternof a country of this scale involuntarily influences the development of its closest neighbors and the planet as a whole.
Why Pushkin?
Town Pushkin has rich architectural, landscape, cultural and historical heritage. Peter the Great founded the city as an imperial country residence - Tsarskoe Selo.
Pushkin is included in the list of monuments protected by UNESCO.
Municipal authorities and local residents of the city are aware of its importance and are ready to support the sustainable development of the city.
Pushkin is a universal city example to create a show-room on sustainable development. On one hand, it is a district of St. Petersburg, the city of the Federal significance. On other, Pushkin is an independent small town, like the majority in Russia. The concept developed on its basis will be indicative for various cities and towns of our country.
Cultural heritage
Pushkin is of unique historical significance for Russia. It is architectural, landscape, cultural and historical heritage. Peter the Great founded the city as an imperial country residence - Tsarskoe Selo.
The town is included in the list of UNESCO heritage sites.
Educational capacity
Pushkin district has a great intellectual potential. It is the center of agricultural science and education. In the area is located St. Petersburg State Agrarian University.
District of innovations
It is planned to build in the district a branch of Skolkovo by 2027, the ITMO Highpark Campus, which will become an innovation center.
Ecological situation
Pushkin district is recognized as one of the cleanest areas of the city. This is facilitated by the natural microclimate of the area and a large number of parks and green areas.
Active citizenship
Municipal authorities and local residents of the city are aware of its importance and ready to support the sustainable development of the city.
Citizens are worried about the fate of their native city. They are united in public organizations. Citizens express and defend their right to a favorable urban environment.
First steps
Pushkin has already committed himself in the international arena for the sustainable development of the city to and in conjunction with more than 3,000 cities from 40 countries.
On June 28, 1998, the city of Pushkin signed the Aalborg Charter.
We, European cities & towns, signatories of this Charter, state that in the course of history, our towns have existed within and outlasted empires, nation states, and regimes and have survived as centres of social life, carriers of our economies, and guardians of culture, heritage and tradition. Along with families and neighbourhoods, towns have been the basic elements of our societies and states. Towns have been the centres of industry, craft, trade, education and government.
We understand that our present urban lifestyle, in particular our patterns of division of labour and functions, land-use, transport, industrial production, agriculture, consumption, and leisure activities, and hence our standard of living, make us essentially responsible for many environmental problems humankind is facing. This is particularly relevant as 80 percent of Europe's population live in urban areas.
We have learnt that present levels of resource consumption in the industrialised countries cannot be achieved by all people currently living, much less by future generations, without destroying the natural capital.
We are convinced that sustainable human life on this globe cannot be achieved without sustainable local communities. Local government is close to where environmental problems are perceived and closest to the citizens and shares responsibility with governments at all levels for the well-being of humankind and nature. Therefore, cities and towns are key players in the process of changing lifestyles, production, consumption and spatial patterns.
Pushkin is one of the 17 cities in Russia that signed the Aalborg Charter.
What's next?
By signing the Aalborg Charter, Pushkin acknowledged its' role in the process of sustainable development.
It is necessary to take a step further - to take the Aalborg Obligations to allocate areas for focus in sustainable prosperous development. And act!
Most immediate action plan
Establish an international consortium that will bring together eco-development professionals who plan to expand on the Russian market for modern eco-friendly equipment and solutions, mainly from Russia, Finland and Sweden.
Develop the cooperation between the Lyceum of 410 Pushkin and the Finnish-Russian School of Eastern Finland. First of all, enable the experience and knowledge exchange in the field of ecology: introduce separate garbage collection and other areas.
Current work
Public Council on Sustainable Development of Pushkinsky district leads and organise the activities to ensure realization of Ecograd-Pushkin model.
To achieve Ekohrad-Pushkin the Council is working on and is supporting the implementation of the EcoSanaClub formula across the city in 10 directions.
Directions identified with regard to the Basque Declaration and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
ECO
SANA
CLUB
Join us to make Pushkin show-room of sustainable development for Russian cities!
Our achievements
The spirit of the Aalborg Charter is close to the citizens of Pushkin. They are working for the sustainable and prosperous development of the city and district leading different organizations and associations.
Join us!
Let's make Pushkin show-room of Sustainable Deveopemtn and SDGs adaptation for Russia!