Siberian Federal University: SibFU discusses the establishment of the first world-level climate research and educational centre in Russia

On May 19, 2021, the Council for Science and Higher Education under Governor of Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Uss held a meeting at Siberian Federal University.

The meeting was chaired by the head of the region and was attended by university rectors, representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, members of the Government of Krasnoyarsk Territory, directors of industrial enterprises and representatives of the academic community of Siberia.

The meeting discussed the project of creating the first climate research and educational centre on the basis of Siberian Federal University and the participation of Krasnoyarsk Territory in the competitive selection for the provision of state support for world-class research and educational centres under the Science and Universities national project.

The meeting approved composition of the REC Governing Council; rector of Siberian Federal University Maksim Rumiantsev was unanimously elected as its chairman.

The meeting also included the presentation of Yenisey Siberia REC’s draft Program of Activity which is to be coordinated with the heads of the entities included in it: Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Tyva, and Republic of Khakassia, and the draft Program of Activity of the Centre for the Development of Competencies of Scientific, Scientific and Engineering Projects, and Laboratories of the REC.

In accordance with Decree No. 204 On national goals and strategic objectives of the development of the Russian Federation up to 2024 of the President of the Russian Federation from 7 May 2018, it has been planned to establish 15 scientific and educational centres of the world level in Russia. Krasnoyarsk Territory intends to participate in the third wave of the competition and claims to support the region’s initiative to create conditions for improving the quality of life of the population of Siberia based on the technological modernization of the unique industrial legacy of this macroregion, taking into account the trends of decarbonization of the economy and maximum use of natural resource potential.

The tasks to be solved by the REC are of a complex nature: these are not only issues of carbon production and storage, creation of carbon grounds, greening technologies, but also the development and verification of a system for the correct accounting of carbon units and a financial model based on these calculations.

Alexander Uss instructed to form an application with the necessary set of documents for participation in the competition for the creation of the REC by the end of this month.

“The tasks of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and absorbing already accumulated greenhouse gases are urgent for the whole country and, in particular, for Krasnoyarsk Territory. If there arise no obstacles, the chance that a very popular, financially attractive climatic research and educational centre will appear in Krasnoyarsk Territory is very real,” concluded the governor.

According to experts, Krasnoyarsk is highly likely to take one of the leading places in the scientific and climatic agenda, as it has several large scientific schools developed here, and the region has accumulated a significant scientific potential, and formed up a unique instrumental and technological basis. There are unique facilities, in particular, an international station located in the Arctic zone which monitors greenhouse gases in the surface layers of the atmosphere.

Rector of Siberian Federal University Maksim Rumiantsev notes: “We are focused on the development of the region and on the prospects of the people who live here. In order to make life in the Territory more comfortable and safer, we must start by solving the vital issues of preserving future generations. The problem of climate change and environmental safety is just the one in this field. Therefore, the REC in Krasnoyarsk is to the benefit of people. This is work for the future of Russia and the planet as a whole.”

The project for the formation of the climatic REC in Krasnoyarsk was supported by leading national companies: RUSAL, Rosneft, SUEK, Gazprom, Reshetnev ISS, Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant other.