Authorities of general jurisdiction responsible for managing environmental protection and natural resource utilization

General Provisions

The centralized system of government bodies responsible for environmental protection and natural resource management plays a key role in ensuring coordinated governance and implementation of Russia's environmental policy. These bodies include the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, as well as the governments and administrations of federal subjects. These organs provide strategic leadership, develop and implement measures for environmental protection, rational use of natural resources, and enhancement of ecological safety.

The President of the Russian Federation, as the Head of State and Guarantor of the Constitution, performs functions to protect citizens' environmental rights, ensure the country's sovereignty, and coordinate the work of state authorities in the field of natural resource management. He defines the main directions of internal and foreign policy, including the environmental strategy, and represents Russia's interests on the international arena by signing international agreements concerning the protection of nature and the rational use of resources.

The Government of the Russian Federation performs functions related to the development and implementation of unified state policy in the field of environmental protection and natural resource management. Its competence includes organizing the rational use of natural resources, ensuring the ecological well-being of the population, preventing emergency situations and eliminating their consequences, as well as regulating the country's mineral-resource base. Effective work by the Government ensures stable functioning of the ecological system and maintains a balance between economic development and environmental protection.

The powers of state authorities of federal subjects include the implementation of environmental programs and supervision of compliance with environmental legislation at the regional level. Local governments and administrations coordinate activities related to the conservation of natural objects, supervision of economic activities affecting the environment, and ensuring the ecological safety of the population, taking into account the specific conditions of their territories.

The comprehensive work of organs of general competence forms the basis for sustainable environmental use and protection in the country, creating conditions for harmonious societal development and preserving nature for future generations.

In scientific literature¹ it is noted that the system of organs with general competence exercising management in the field of environmental protection and natural resource use consists of: The President of the Russian Federation; the Government of the Russian Federation; the governments and administrations of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The powers of the President of the Russian Federation are defined by Article 80 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. According to this article, the President of the Russian Federation is the head of state, the guarantor of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the rights and freedoms of a person and citizen (including environmental ones).

In accordance with the procedure established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the President of the Russian Federation takes measures to protect the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, its independence and state integrity, ensuring coordinated functioning and interaction of state authorities (including in matters of environmental protection and natural resource management). The President of the Russian Federation determines the main directions of internal and foreign policy of the state (including environmental policy) in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal laws. The President of the Russian Federation as the head of state

represents the Russian Federation within the country and in international relations (including signing international agreements in the field of environmental protection and use of natural resources). The powers of the Government of the Russian Federation are defined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the Federal Constitutional Law «On the Government of the Russian Federation»[^2]. According to Article 114 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, including ensuring the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of ecology (point «v» of part 1). Article 18 of the Federal Constitutional Law «On the Government of the Russian Federation» defines the powers of the Government of the Russian Federation in the area of natural resource use and environmental protection. According to

in the article specified, the Government of the Russian Federation: ensures the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of environmental protection and ensuring ecological safety; takes measures to implement citizens' rights to a favorable environment and ensure ecological well-being; organizes activities on the protection and rational use of natural resources, regulation of nature management, and development of the mineral raw material base of the Russian Federation; coordinates activities to prevent natural disasters, accidents, and catastrophes, reduce their danger, and eliminate their consequences.

[2] Federal Constitutional Law of December 17, 1997 No. 2-FKZ "On the Government of the Russian Federation" // RSFSR Collection of Laws. 1997. No. 51. Art. 5712.