Report - UNDP Russia

generation facilities through safer fuelcombustion technologies and with due accountof sustainable development and environmentalcapacity of adjacent territories. Projects forincrease of fuel oil or coal burning must considerspecific environmental conditions and publichealth in the towns or cities concerned.Compliance with new internationalenvironmental standards (and not only Russianstandards) for populated areas should becomeobligatory. Wide-scale public discussion ofenvironmental issues in areas affected by powerplant emissions is also required.Health risk assessment and riskmanagement plans should become prerequisitesfor any decisions to expand the fuel and energysector. Construction and/or expansion decisions,which lack the required environmentalsubstantiation, could lead to further worseningof living conditions and public health.89