Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, supported the Rosprirodnadzor International Children and Youth Award "Ecology is everyone" and believes that the contest can become a good tradition, and maintaining a favorable environment is our mutual responsibility, and the fate of the planet depends on all of us.

"Dear friends, participants of the first international children's and youth contest "Ecology is everyone". The life of every person is inseparably connected with nature, so the name of the contest has a profound meaning. After all, maintaining a favorable state of the environment is our mutual responsibility. The fate of the planet depends on all of us, and by participating in the contest you can prove that you care about its future. The jury of the contest considered 6000 entries from Russia and 27 countries. I am glad that the contestants performed their task with great responsibility and creativity. They have touched upon a wide variety of ecological issues in their presentations. The most important thing is that they offered solutions", - says the Minister in his official statement to the Award contestants.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation emphasized that the sustainable development of countries is impossible without mutual efforts of the international community, so the wide participation of children from abroad in the contest was especially valuable.

"I believe that everyone was interested in their stories about the unique environmental experience of their countries. The exchange of ideas, proposals and projects helps to unite young people on the environmental protection basis, increase young people's environmental awareness, and create an active life consciousness in general. The Russian Federation pays a lot of attention to the environmental agenda. And it's reasonable, considering our vast territory and vast natural resources, our enormous reserves of fresh water, forests, natural resources and unique wildlife. We must always remember that all these resources are running out and are vulnerable, and so we must be extremely careful with the use of these resources," said Sergey Lavrov in his statement.

The Minister noted that Russia also takes a strong position on environmental issues in international forums and consistently supports the achievement of sustainable development goals of the UN, which were formulated in the 2030 Agenda.

"The level and quality of life of all people on the planet directly depends on it. I am convinced that your contest can become a good tradition. I wish you guys strong health and high spirits. Good luck and best wishes in all your endeavors," concluded Lavrov.

"We appreciate Sergey Viktorovich's support. After all, caring about the environment is a task faced by all Russian people. We can only together save the outstanding natural beauty of our country. The contestants' entries have shown how sensitively children respond to the environmental problems they see in their regions and, most importantly, show the options for solving them. "Ecology is everyone" and it is not only words - it is a lifestyle rule, which I hope will remain in the hearts of participants, their parents, teachers and all those who supported our award. The most important thing is that children all over the world speak the same language of peace and love of nature and many entries from abroad have proved it. All regions of Russia took part in the Award; countries of Latin America, especially Peru, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, were very active. There was an active teacher in China, who helped the art school participate in the Award and the children sent in over fifty drawings. Kazakhstan, Italy, Uzbekistan and many others were also very active. We are very happy that children show us adults how they see the future of our planet and want to save nature", - commented Svetlana Radionova, head of the Federal Service for Environmental Supervision.

The "Ecology is Everyone" award was established by the Federal Service for Environmental Supervision in March 2021 and is held in accordance with the national development goals of the Russian Federation. Among the main goals of the project are ecological education, popularization of the theme of ecology and culture of responsible attitude for natural resources, and involvement of young people in the environmental agenda through social networks and "green" volunteering. The nominations for the Award were accepted from April 1 to October 1 of this year. During the six months 9.5 thousand applications from children were received, 6,000 were accepted, and about 650 works were short-listed for the award.

All regions of Russia participated in the award, as well as Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, India, People's Republic of China, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, USA, Turkey, Poland, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Estonia, Belarus, Armenia, Abkhazia.

The chairman of the jury was the deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation, Victoria Abramchenko.

The results of the Award will be announced on November 25 at a press conference, which will be held online at 14.00 Moscow time.

Lists of winners, laureates and those who were additionally noted by the jury will be published on the project website www.экологияделокаждого.рф

The general partner of the award was the Arctic Initiatives Center. Federal partners were SIBUR Holding PJSC and Orlyonok Children's Center. The project was supported by: film studio "Soyuzmultfilm", RUTUBE, National Organization "Russian Movement of Schoolchildren", National Public Organization of Volunteer Ecologists "Delay!", National Children's Volunteer Ecological Society "Soyuzmultfilm". ", National Children's and Youth Military and Patriotic Public Movement "Yunarmiya", Sergei Andriyaka Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts, " Podsolnukh" and "Dobryaki" charitable foundations, Grand Hotel "Pearl", ecological clothing brand OLGA SKAZKINA

The project's media partners: "Detskoe Radio, Rossiya Segodnya MIA, TASS news agency, TASS news and education project Newm, Rossiya 24 TV channel, Ekho Moskvy radio station, 360 TV channel, Izvestia MRC, "Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Argumenty i Fakty, Argumenty Nedeli, Russian Public Television (OTR), FANABI Media Holding (Uzbekistan), and Ostankino Media School.