Rosatom has launched its fifth annual environmental and biodiversity monitoring program along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), reinforcing its commitment to environmentally responsible shipping in the Arctic. The initiative, conducted in partnership with the Marine Research Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University, follows internationally recognized environmental conservation practices.
The monitoring program aims to support the sustainable development of the NSR by assessing the health of Arctic marine ecosystems as shipping activity continues to expand. It seeks to ensure that increasing cargo traffic does not negatively affect the region's fragile environment.
Since its launch in 2021, the project has brought together more than 130 experts from 29 organizations representing Russia, China, India, Egypt, Turkey and several other countries. According to the latest research findings, current shipping activity along the Northern Sea Route has not caused any measurable adverse impact on the Arctic environment.
The initiative has gained recognition within the international scientific community and has been showcased at leading conferences on Arctic development, marine ecology, sustainable shipping and climate change.
This year, major Russian companies operating projects in the Arctic have joined the initiative, highlighting growing industry support for responsible environmental stewardship.
The 2026 monitoring program will cover the entire Northern Sea Route, including the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas, as well as the Gulf of Ob, the Yenisei River and the ports of Sabetta, Utrenny, Dudinka, Tiksi and Pevek.
Three research teams will conduct field studies at 53 monitoring stations. The results will provide an updated assessment of Arctic marine ecosystems and a comprehensive analysis of environmental data collected between 2021 and 2026, supporting the long-term sustainable development of the Northern Sea Route.
