Experts Discussed How to Estimate the Carbon Footprint

11:46, December 10, 2021

The international online seminar was attended by professors and students of the university

Representatives of the Ural Federal University took part in the international seminar "Carbon Footprint Assessment Methodology", which was held online. The organizer was Russian-German group of companies Haensch. The seminar was attended by about 40 participants, including representatives of major industrial companies of oil and gas, mining and metallurgical sectors ("Gazprom", UMMC, etc.), as well as manufacturers of electrical and instrumentation products.  

Blanka Kaker, Lead Auditor of SIQ (Slovenia) specializing in environmental management systems (ISO 14001, EMAS, carbon footprint), energy management system ISO 50001 opened the workshop. Blanka reminded the audience of basic concepts such as carbon footprint, greenhouse effect, and highlighted the principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA).  

The main topic of the seminar, the calculation of the carbon footprint of companies, was introduced to the audience by Tomaz Fatur. As a certified ISO 50001 verifier, the leading verifier of CO2 emission monitoring reports of companies in Slovenia, Tomaz provided formulas for the calculation and a large number of practical instruments, which will allow to calculate the carbon footprint on the company's own.  

At the end of the seminar, the speakers left time for discussion and asked the audience what techniques they are already using to reduce their carbon footprint.  

The participation of Ural Federal University representatives was supervised by Professor Elena Magaril, Head of the Department of Environmental Economics at Ural Federal University's Research and Education Center "Engineering-economical, financial, ecological-economical studies and educational programs in hi-tech industries". According to her, environmental challenges are now becoming critically important. The unprecedented rate of qualitative changes in the environment is accelerating, on the one hand, and the associated revolutionary changes in the technological platform for economic development, on the other. The global energy transition is connected with the growth of the share of unconventional fuels in the total energy balance, motivated by climate threats and the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  

"The long-term low-carbon development strategy developed by the Russian government and the adopted federal law "On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions" show that the low-carbon agenda is reaching a completely new level. It requires an advanced reaction not only from the state and business, but also from universities, as it is necessary to increase the level of ecological education and culture. In addition to a basic volume of ecological knowledge, it is necessary to update competencies for new tasks and practice-oriented training," emphasizes Elena Magaril.

Elena Magaril also notes that the international seminar on advanced methods for calculating the carbon footprint of companies provided students and teachers with unique opportunities to master practical instruments on the example of real cases. This experience will be useful for future graduates in their professional activities, as well as for teachers.