#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Vladimir Zhukov, the Nornickel’s vice president for relations with the investment community, took part in the eco-forum’s corporate platform work. He noted that climate change remains a priority topic for the company:
“We have two climate challenges. The first one is related to Norilsk – it is the soil thawing, the second one concerns the global economy, which is on the trajectory of transition from non-renewable energy sources.”
The expert emphasized that the company’s key task is to ensure safety and continuity in production. To do this, it is necessary to rely on a risk-based approach: to study possible risks, minimize them and consider possible solutions to eliminate them.
He called the precipitation season duration and the thawing depth increase the main negative factors of climate change in the northern latitudes.
“Trends are not critical for us, but they are worrying”, Zhukov concluded.
As for the challenges associated with the global economy, the global paradigm of carbon neutrality comes to the fore.
“There are two possible scenarios here. First, scientists will recalculate models that will allow the world to use non-renewable energy sources for some time. That is, the further energy transition will be slowed down. The use of non-environmentally friendly sources will grow in the world, this is primarily coal. The second is that all goals and objectives to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 will remain, the trajectory of decline will be steeper”, the expert explained.
Taking into account all possible risks, Nornickel has developed and is already implementing a profile roadmap.
“We have provided several solutions for the climate change problem issue long-term development and have chosen options for socio-economic development”, Zhukov said. “A number of activities have already been implemented, climate change scenarios have been approved, which will be used for analysis and forecasting. There are also projects that are in progress”.
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Text: Victor Tsaryov, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko and Ekaterina Maksimova
