The international scientific conference with participation of UNESCO chairs "Sustainable Development and Globalization: Implementation of UNESCO strategy for the Second Half of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" opened in Moscow on December 7, 2010. Scholars and public figures from Russia, France, Korea, Japan, the Baltic States and other countries attended the conference and made reports on various aspects of society and the state within the framework of sustainable development.

At the plenary meeting on December 7, the head of special projects at METROPOL Group of Companies R.N. Afonin delivered a report entitled "Public-Private Partnerships in the Development of the Baikal Region." The main emphasis was placed on implementing sustainable development in the Baikal region and Baikal Central Ecological Zone in particular.

"The implementation of any large industrial projects should be carried out with a focus on the concept of sustainable development: efficient economic development of the territories in compliance with current legislation and under control of the state and society, including organizations like UNESCO," R.N. Afonin said.

This approach will meet the needs and interests of future generations through reasonable exploitation of natural resources and creation of an economic base of future prosperity.