UNIDO and International Expert Work

In 2000 Dr Startsev drew up the project for, and for twenty years directed, the non-profit North-Western International Cleaner Production Centre, established in Saint Petersburg by the Environment Department of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The project was carried out with the support of the Saint Petersburg Administration, the relevant ministries and committees of the State Duma, under the UNIDO – Russia Cooperation Programme (1999–2002).

In a letter of 12 December 2012 the UNIDO Environment Department confirmed that the Centre was the only specialized organization in North-West Russia within the UNIDO international network of national cleaner production centres, then active in 47 countries, and that UNIDO used it to promote its Green Industry platform and the Global Chemical Leasing Programme in the region.

The Centre covers the eleven constituent entities of the North-Western Federal District, from Kaliningrad Oblast to the Komi Republic and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Its strategy is summed up in one line: “From improvement to operation and preservation for future generations”.

The Centre completed the procedure to become a Privileged Partner of UNIDO.

Since 2007 Dr Startsev has been a certified UNIDO international expert in chemical safety and cleaner production (energy efficiency, resource saving and waste minimization). He took part in UNIDO international programmes and projects and, while at the Centre, organized internships for and trained 48 international and national UNIDO experts.

As early as spring 2000 he worked as a national expert in UNEP and UNIDO expert groups in Geneva, Trieste, Bern and Vienna on persistent organic pollutants and on the UNIDO cooperation programme with Russia (see International Expert Work and Training).