Round table discussion "Terraforming: at the dawn of fundamental transformation of the planet" was held in Omsk SAU

The meeting, attended by entrepreneurs and scientists, was devoted to the strategies of responsible development of companies in the context of ESG factors, the carbon market development in Russia, the possibilities of implementing climate projects and practices of ecological transformation of cities.

The event is aimed at promoting the terraforming, i.e. ideas related to the transformation of cities, technologies, ecosystems, and our consumption patterns in order to ensure normal vital activities on the Earth, and create favourable conditions for the mankind in the context of climate change agenda.

Omsk SAU Vice-rector for economics and informatisation, head of "Assessing ecological footprint and carbon tariffs calculation" project Vitaliy Pomogaev noted that "As part of terraforming, we plan to organize a series of events aimed at promoting decarbonization, lowering carbon footprint, implementing climate projects and ESG-based management*".

In his report called "ESG-company policy and climate projects" V. M.Pomogaev told why it is important to take into account ESG factors today, stressing that "having properly designed their ESG strategy today, companies can gain competitive advantages by participating in "green ratings", verifying their carbon footprint, and gaining access to green loans and issuing green bonds.

Examples of it already exist in our city. An enterprise Bolshoy Dom Drevesiny (lit. "Big House of Wood") is implementing several social initiatives aimed at planting trees. Good experience of this company will be used to show business representatives how to build a ESG-based strategy.

Head of Bolshoy Dom Drevesiny company Alla Amen described the progress in implementing the ecological initiative and offered to launch a project aimed at reconstruction of the Arboretum of Omsk State Agrarian University to make it look like it was initially seen by designers in 1920. Some plantings in the park are more than a century old and many trees have already outlived their biological age, and some tree species have been lost. University scientists and business partners intend to return these lost species and introduce new ones. The reconstruction will take at least 5 years. Preparations have already begun.

Head of educational laboratory "Dendropark" Artem Degtyaryov informed the participants about the global and Russian experience in creating green cities.

Natalia Prokhorova, Associate Professor of the Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Plant Protection of the Agrotechnological Faculty emphasized the relevance of creating an ecological project to restore the arboretum, telling about the history and stages plantings formation.

Then the meeting attendees had a more detailed discussion of the eco-project. They talked about creating a center for improving knowledge on ESG factors in order to support climate projects. Climate projects (carbon capture and storage projects) based on nature-like technologies are currently the most accessible both in terms of technological and economic aspects. Afforestation and agroforestry are the most popular ones, and such projects are internationally recognized. Scientific metrics and evidence base for such projects are formed at the Carbon Proving Ground, which has been operating in Omsk State Agrarian University for more than a year.

*ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is a set of company management patterns that engages a company in solving environmental, social and managerial problems.