First carbon monitoring site opens in the Tyumen Region with support from SIBUR

Tyumen, 30 August 2021. Russia's first carbon monitoring site has opened in the Tyumen Region. It was created on the base at the University of Tyumen (UTMN) research field station, which is located on Lake Kuchak (Nizhnetavdinsky District), with support from SIBUR. The opening marks the first milestone in the development of Russia’s carbon balance control system.

The official ceremony was attended by Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Alexander Moor, Governor of the Tyumen Region, Maxim Remchukov, Head of SIBUR’s Sustainable Development, and representatives from the government and the science and education communities. The pilot project will be rolled out in seven Russian regions, including the Tyumen Region.

Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation:

“The climate is undergoing profound change. One of the key challenges we are facing today is the lack of reliable climatic data to understand what is happening with the climate, what drives climate change, and how this change is unfolding. The availability of reliable data in this field is what make a difference to our ability to predict climate evolution. To address this, we made a decision more than a year ago to create a network of carbon monitoring sites.”

Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation:

“The first seven carbon monitoring sites can be used as a starting point to develop the scientific framework for monitoring greenhouse gases. Each site is created in partnership with universities and scientific organisations, with their work guided by their own research agenda, educational and awareness raising missions. We also aim to engage school and university students to help them learn more about this matter. Partnerships with universities and research institutions will be instrumental in addressing the global challenge – to create a science-based system to monitor greenhouse gases that will be recognised in Russia and beyond.”

The Tyumen site has an area of 2.32 ha and covers the region’s most typical ecosystems – different types of forests, lakes, swamps, and agrocenoses. The site’s equipment makes it possible to monitor greenhouse gas emissions across more than 10,600 ha. The researchers will be able to closely study and assess the absorption capacity of each ecosystem, and develop mixes of types and species of plants that match the ecosystem in terms of their ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The research results will be used in reforestation and agricultural development projects as well as in initiatives to create dedicated carbon farms, i.e. territories with enhanced carbon dioxide absorption capacity.

Alexander Moor, Governor of the Tyumen Region:

“This project is a national priority, and I appreciate the trust in our region and the opportunity to contribute to a shared goal. The location of the first carbon monitoring site makes perfect sense, as this is a nature reserve that boasts various types of ecosystems. This lays the ground for other carbon-related projects and awareness raising programmes. I am happy to say that we are not alone in this endeavour: SIBUR, our social and environmentally conscious partner, has signed an agreement on cooperation to team up on this project.”

Maxim Remchukov, Head of SIBUR’s Sustainable Development:

“As a company, we see that different markets, predominantly the European Union, are developing new requirements regarding the carbon footprint of products (European Green Deal and carbon border adjustment mechanism). This is increasingly an area of focus for investors, banks, and consumers. In this context, an integrated programme to create carbon monitoring sites and encourage research into climate change and carbon capture are especially relevant today. The pace this project is progressing at is impressive and enables Russia to stay on the pulse of today's trends and challenges. This is something we can relate to at SIBUR as we are moving in the same direction by investing in new technology and upgrading existing capacities to make them more environmentally friendly and reduce the climate change impact. As such, creating a carbon monitoring site is a multifaceted project: it also serves as a great opportunity for students and researchers to learn new skills with equipment and take their research further, which can have ultimate benefits for the business and for the nation.”