SPIEF 2026: NGOs as the Foundation for Long-Term Environmental Partnerships

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On 5 June, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026) hosted a session titled “The Role of NGOs and Environmental Initiatives as Drivers of Change.” The discussion focused on how governments, businesses, and the scientific community are working together to address environmental challenges, and the increasingly important role non-profit organizations play in that process.

Among the speakers was Anastasia Tsvetkova, CEO of the Lake Baikal Foundation for Applied Environmental Research and Development and Senior Partner, Climate and Sustainability at Baikal Lobridge.

According to Tsvetkova, NGOs today do far more than implement individual projects. Through long-term engagement with local communities and regions, they often become a vital link connecting businesses, researchers, and public authorities, while bringing a practical understanding of local environmental challenges.

“NGOs deal with regional issues every day. That is often where their value lies for business partners. By working with an experienced environmental organization, companies can quickly gain a deep understanding of the challenges facing a particular region and, more importantly, identify practical ways to address them,” she said.

As an example, Tsvetkova highlighted the partnership between the Lake Baikal Foundation and Yandex Cloud. Launched in 2020, the initiative began as a long-term monitoring program for the Lake Baikal ecosystem. The Foundation acted as a bridge between scientists and the technology partner, helping introduce artificial intelligence tools for processing large volumes of environmental data while preserving scientific continuity and research standards.

Tsvetkova also stressed that successful long-term partnerships depend on shared values. Environmental organizations, she noted, should assess potential partners not only in terms of available resources, but also their motivations and commitment to meaningful impact.

“When a partner approaches a conservation project with communications goals taking priority over practical outcomes, it is important to be able to say no. In this field, reputation always comes first,” she said.

The discussion also addressed how to measure the effectiveness of environmental initiatives. According to Tsvetkova, such projects typically generate environmental, social, and economic benefits at the same time, making a comprehensive approach to impact assessment essential.

In closing, she shared the example of the Foundation’s separate waste collection program across national parks within the Baikal Natural Territory. Running for eight years, the initiative has helped reduce pressure on the Lake Baikal ecosystem while creating additional employment opportunities for local communities.

Participants agreed that lasting environmental solutions can only be achieved through collaboration between government, business, academia, and the non-profit sector. Partnerships built on shared expertise and long-term commitment remain one of the most effective ways to protect natural heritage for future generations.

A recording of the session is available via the link.

2026-06-09 09:42