University Scientists Investigate Problems of Achieving Carbon Neutrality

15:38, February 24, 2021

Dr. Konstantin Gribanov shared on the ideas and concepts of a new project in an interview

Farms that will grow plants to absorb carbon dioxide and safely store carbon in wood, soil, or in another way may appear in the Sverdlovsk region. The project initiated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation includes the effort from Ural Federal University. Konstantin Gribanov, a leading researcher at the Laboratory of Climate Physics and Environment of the Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the UrFU, spoke about this at a press conference at Interfax dedicated to climate change in the Sverdlovsk Region.

“At present, the climate around the planet is warming. Warming is also noted in the northern regions of our country. There are regions in the north of Russia where warming has reached seven degrees over 30-40 years. And these changes are already starting to scare. Since there is permafrost, it thaws deeper and deeper in the summer, and this presents a certain problem and danger, "said Konstantin Gribanov.

As a result, developed countries are beginning to set ambitious targets for achieving carbon neutrality or reducing emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Thus, the European Union is going to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. That is, carbon will not be emitted into the atmosphere, and if it does, it is planned to compensate for this process with the same absorption volumes.

As one of the measures, the European Union is going to introduce cross-border regulation (the so-called "green deal"): anyone who wants to sell products in the EU will have to prove that their products are not burdened with carbon dioxide emissions, or provide a document that this company has bought the appropriate amount of carbon stored by other facilities.

“20 years ago, climatologists had no doubt that Russia is a sink of carbon dioxide due to the fact that the country is green, wooded and swampy. Now, unfortunately, it is necessary to prove it anew. For this, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education encourages scientific and educational organizations to start developing a national system for monitoring emissions and absorption of carbon dioxide in the country, as well as to create technologies for carbon farms, ”the scientist said.

UrFU scientists are now exploring the question of how best to start research on carbon sequestration technologies, which territories to choose for such research in the Sverdlovsk region.