1st carbon monitoring site opens in the Tyumen Region with support from SIBUR

Tyumen, September 1 - Neftegaz.RU. Russia's 1^st carbon monitoring site was created on the base at the University of Tyumen (UTMN) research field station with support from SIBUR.
The opening marks the 1^st milestone in the development of Russia’s carbon balance control system.

The official ceremony was attended by Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the Russian President, 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.
The pilot project will be rolled out in 7 Russian regions, including the Tyumen Region.

Andrey Fursenko said:

• 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 noted:

• The 1^st 7 carbon monitoring sites can be used as a starting point to develop the scientific framework for monitoring greenhouse gases
• 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

Maxim Remchukov, Head of SIBUR’s Sustainable Development, said:

• As a company, we see that different markets, predominantly the EU, are developing new requirements regarding the carbon footprint of products (European Green Deal and carbon border adjustment mechanism)
• 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

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.