Urban Governance:
- legislation
- management and information systems
- monitoring and evaluation
- partnership development
- public policy

When in Russia has begun democratic transformation - Glasnost and Perestroika - people had an opportunity to speak about problem, that were closed up. Such problem in Kirovo-Chepetsk was the quality of atmospheric air. The sources of pollution are the chemical enterprise, one of largest in Europe, heat-power-station (HPS), transport. In former years air protection projects weren't fulfilled, because the building and development of new enterprises were being financed mainly. HPS was working on coal and oil and federal Government didn't comply with requests to give natural gas for power-station. The City Council, elected in 1990 at first time by alternative way, has determined the decision of ecological problems as one of the meanest tasks. "The shocking therapy" of 1992, resulted in sharp fall of overall production and reduction of financial possibilities of all of the participants of the process. But, due to political will of the participants of the Initiative and developed mechanisms of management, air protection work doesn't stop. This is an example of ecological policy effective realization opportunity in condition of economical crisis. The realized Initiative is not coping any particular example. It contains original decisions, borrowed elements, and generalisation. Only complex, integrated approach can give appreciable results. We count, that the result of the Initiative will be not only the rise of air quality, but also comprehension of the town residents' their own opportunities. And it is potential for the decision of other ecological problems and for creation of ecological sound community.

key dates
Decrease in total emissions: 72% 
decrease in emissions per unit of industrial production: 44% 
Reduction of non - standard transport, three therms 
Creating annual green areas: 4,000 trees and shrubs 
Reducing air pollution: five points

The realization of the initiative required the consolidation and coordination of the activities of many of the partners. However industrial companies felt that the demands of the population and the municipal administration were excessive and were above financial opportunities. dissociation between state agencies and municipal services also took place.

So it was necessary to take decisions on the following aspects:

1. induce employers to undertake environmental activities

2. create stimulating financial mechanisms

3. improve controls on pollution sources and air quality

4. get understanding among various interest groups and coordinate their activity

In the end, entrepreneurs, municipal and state agencies and scientific and public organizations were involved in the realization of the initiative.

The main purpose of the initiative was to regulations on air quality in the populated area of the city. Thus, the following priorities were identified:

1. the interruption in the use of gasoline with ethylene

2. the systematic creation of gardens in the city

3. reducing emissions enterprises

4. improving the quality of the gases emitted by vehicles

The analysis of available information regarding the state of the environment and industry and on the influence of pollution on the environment preceded the development of the strategy and tactics for the realization of the initiative.the density of the information available, the level of awareness of the population and the people who make the decisions and the ability of the local administration was also analyzed. As a result it was agreed to concentrate the activity on the following aspects:

1. receiving information about the state of the air and the influence of emissions on the environment and health of the population and distribution of this information;

2. creation of an Ecological Council by the mayor of the city;

3. information analysis and design of technical measures to reduce pollution;

4. acceptance of local regulations aimed at reducing pollution;

5. introduction of an ecological education.

The town hall, first elected democratically in 1990, became the main engine. Large populations and various public organizations (Ecological Club, unions committees veterans of the chemical industry, the union "Chernobyl", etc.) have supported the initiative. Moreover, contact has been established with the unions of Russian cities, with the union for chemical safety and the socio-ecological international union. The local media and the state committee for environmental protection of the Kirov region, have also assisted the ecological movement. The city committee for the protection of nature has assumed the role of leader and coordinator for the implementation of the initiative on behalf of the city.

The realization of the initiative according to the guidelines listed above includes the following:

1. Scientific research on the environment. For example, geological St. Petersburg company has conducted soil studies have shown that emissions from power plants and chemical industries are composed of heavy metals. Reforestation Institute (St. Petersburg) has studied the state of the trees located within the municipality. There has been a change in the character of ecological systems, and the degradation of trees within a radius of two kilometers from the emission sources.

2. The council has created an additional post for monitoring air quality and citizens for nature protection committee has undertaken to disseminate and analyze the available information received by other organizations: the regional center of hydro-meteorology and monitoring environmental pollution, the local health center supervision, the chemical industry and the power plant.

3. Information on the state of the environment was published in the local press and discussed at various levels. It was discussed, for example, in the so-called ecological scientific-practical conference, a congress held since 1990. This conference is organized once every two years and attracts increasing attention. More than 150 people from 18 cities, including 50 PhDs are counted, took part in the call for 1996, which could be heard 90 reports and communications. All conference material has been published later.

4. In 1993, the Ecological Council to prepare the decisions of local administration and coordination of the activities of several services was created. Representatives of state and municipal corporations, the most qualified representatives of private and municipal companies took part in it. The Ecological Council discusses draft local regulations, the budget of the Ecological Funds reports on research and monitoring results, projects and environmental measures.

5. The wording of the program for air protection is carried out within the framework of the overall ecological planning. In late 1992 it developed the Ecological Program for the Improvement of Kirovo-Chepetsk until 2000, and in late 1997 the Action Plan for Environmental Protection approved the comprehend period between 1998 and 2000. Within the frameworks established for the realization of the program is considered the introduction of many facilities for cleaning gases emitted by businesses, incorporating the chemical process industries for reuse of gaseous waste and facilities for neutralization of dangerous substances for the layer ozone and conversion of industries located in the city center.

6. There is a standard system applicable to the emission of pollutants using a special mathematical model based on maximum allowable concentrations of pollutants in the air. If applied to a single company, the use of this model does not give problems. But when we consider a number of companies, we find at least two problems: technical and political. The decision on a technical problem requires especially intelligence. In Kirovo-Chepetsk they have been taken into account more than 30 companies and 1,000 sources of emission. 

The political problem is the distribution of pollution quotas between companies. We decided to reject the proportional approach, despite its simplicity. Technical analysis of the ability to reduce emissions in several companies was preferred. The socioeconomic importance of companies was also considered in the city. This consideration was the basis for the definition of quotas, which were initially approved based on consensus among the participants in the negotiations, after being authorized by the municipal administration.

7. One of the basic measures is the conversion of coal plants to gas. The company's social fund " Kirovenergo " could not receive authorization for this conversion (due to the share of gas consumption of the federal government). We managed to demonstrate that (1) deposits had an accumulation of heavy metals in the soil, (2) the polluting substances released had caused the degradation of forests, (3) and that both the placement of a deposit of ash in the area Cheptsa river protection and (4) chosen for the new thermal power plant in a green area of the city location contradict the legislation. Another reason for the central Kirovo-Chepetsk receive the share of natural gas was the draft prepared for the reconstruction of the plant, including the installation of a new steam turbines more efficient than traditionally used.

8. While in Russia the number of vehicles is significantly lower than in other European countries, the gases emitted by the exhaust pipes are an essential factor for air pollution, especially for use with ethylene gas, which accounts for 70% of total volume of Russian manufacture. At first, the council is prefaced companies making gasoline purchases to replace gasoline use with ethylene by one without. When this task was carried out, the use of gasoline was banned with ethylene according to local regulations law.

9. In Russia there are federal rules on the content of pollutants in the gases emitted by the exhaust pipes. But it is necessary to enforce these rules. In 1991 there were only two places throughout the city where the gas exhaust and redesigning engines were checked. 

Today already there are eight. The committee for the protection of nature regularly check the proper functioning of these checkpoints. In addition, under the leadership of the committee and with the participation of health inspectors and patrol service road army carried out the examination of both vehicles and road companies themselves. Violation of these rules entails administrative responsibility.

10. The influence of vegetation on air quality is very positive. Green plants placed along roads and in residential areas, and between these areas and businesses are very important to clean the air. Urban ordinances require compensatory payments for clearing vegetation. 

These payments will swell anbiental funds for protection and used to improve the landscaping. Annually more than 4,000 trees and shrubs are planted in the city.

11. The ecological education is developed in three directions: working with people, working with school children, and ecological education of managers and engineers. In working with the population are the municipal libraries which play the most important role. They organize special exhibitions, prepare various materials and conduct seminars. To encourage these activities, organized since 1996 a contest between libraries. The central municipal library received an award in the contest on ecological education concluded between several libraries of Russia. Environmental education in schools is developed by introducing ecological elements in all scientific subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, geography and literature. Children participate in international action "March for Parks". Ecological education of businesses is carried out since 1997 in a special center and was organized by the Technical State University Vyatka.During the next five years all managers and engineers whose activity can influence the environment, receive special training.