"We need to draft a complete system on acceptable levels of environmental impact," Dmitry Medvedev told a Kremlin meeting. "This draft is being prepared, and I hope by October 1 it will be submitted to the State Duma."
Medvedev said the Russian Security Council held a meeting in January focused on environmental issues, which discussed the impact of environmental standards on the country's innovative development. He said "in essence" the impact is "on our level of competitiveness."
"Today this work is being conducted, including in the run-up to a number of large international events, including the upcoming G8 summit and future plans, as well as current international commitments," the Russian leader said.
The 34th summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations, namely Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S., is to be held in Japan on July 7-9. The event will be Dmitry Medvedev's first as Russian president.