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JSCo “RZD” is a major user of natural resources. It operates in 77 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The priorities of JSCo “RZD” in the field of rational use of natural resources and enhancement of environmental safety are determined by Decree of the President of Russia No. 309 dated May 7, 2024, “On the National Development Goals of the Russian Federation until 2030 and in the Long Term up to 2036”.

Considering the priorities of the state policy in the field of environmental protection, the main goal of JSCo “RZD” is to improve the level of environmental safety, to rationally use natural resources, and to preserve natural systems.

Environmental protection activities of JSCo “RZD” are regulated by the following documents:

  • RZD Holding’s Policy on Labor and Environmental Protection, Industrial and Fire Safety;
  • Environmental Strategy of JSCo “RZD” until 2030 and in the Long Term up to 2035;
  • Regulation on Environmental Transparency of JSCo “RZD”;
  • Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030 with a Forecast until 2035;
  • Declaration on Integrated Approach to Solving Environmental Protection Issues of Lake Baikal during the Implementation of Investment Projects for the Development of the Eastern Polygon.

The main goal of JSCo “RZD” in the field of ecology is to ensure environmental safety and protect people’s health. To achieve this goal by 2035 compared to 2019, it is planned to:

  • reduce emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources by 28.5%;
  • reduce the specific level of greenhouse gas emissions by 6.1%;
  • reduce the use of water resources by 25.5%;
  • reduce the discharge of polluted wastewater into surface water bodies and onto the terrain by 68.0%;
  • reduce the share of production and consumption waste disposed of at waste disposal sites by at least 8 percentage points.

Rail transport is one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport. At the same time, the company is constantly striving to improve the efficiency of its environmental protection activities.

The main environmental risks of the company are associated with the negative impact of the company’s facilities on the environment and the use of natural resources, including non-renewable ones.

JSCo “RZD” is an environmentally responsible company that promotes environmental protection activities and employs the voluntary environmental responsibility procedures.

JSCo “RZD” maintains its leadership in the energy efficient and environmentally friendly transportation.

JSCo “RZD” accounts for less than 1% of the overall environmental footprint of enterprises operating in the territory of the Russian Federation:

  • emissions into atmosphere: 0.75%;
  • discharges of wastewater into water bodies: 0.04%;
  • waste generation: 0.02%.

One of the most important areas of the company’s environmental protection activities is to ensure industrial environmental control and monitoring of environmental impact. JSCo “RZD” has created an environmental monitoring system that includes stationary and mobile environmental laboratories that provide reliable information on the impact of pollution sources on the environment.

In total, JSCo “RZD” operates:

  • 56 stationary industrial environmental laboratories accredited in the national accreditation system;
  • 67 mobile laboratories;
  • 12 laboratory wagons.

Internal environmental audits and inspections are conducted annually in accordance with corporate requirements. During the development phase of investment projects, the company runs environmental engineering surveys to study the natural and man-made conditions of the work area, assess the state of the natural environment and its vulnerability to man-made impacts, develop forecasts of possible changes in the natural environment due to the construction and operation process, and provide recommendations for preventing disruption of the natural balance and conducting environmental monitoring.

ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPARENCY

JSCo “RZD” is an environmentally responsible company that promotes environmental protection activities and employs the voluntary environmental responsibility procedures. As part of its voluntary contribution to social development in the environmental sphere, JSCo “RZD” adheres to the principle of openness and transparency, disclosing its environmental protection strategy and performance results in annual sustainability reports.

The Company respects the constitutional right of citizens to access the environmental status information and strives to improve the efficiency of public control and data availability in the field of environmental safety and protection. In 2022, the company approved the Regulation on Environmental Transparency of JSCo “RZD”, which defines the principles, forms, and requirements for transparency of information about environmental impact.

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY

In 2022, the Management Board of JSCo “RZD” approved the Environmental Strategy of JSCo “RZD” until 2030 and in the Long Term up to 2035.

The priority areas of the Environmental Strategy are:

1. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and low-carbon development.

2. Reduction of negative environmental impact, including:

  • reduction of atmospheric air pollution;
  • rational water use and reduction of water body pollution;
  • improvement of the production and consumption waste management system, increasing the level of waste recycling and involvement in secondary circulation;
  • reduction of the impact of physical factors on the environment and public health (noise, vibration);
  • elimination of pollution and accumulated environmental damage, restoration of disrupted local ecosystems;
  • preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity in the regions of operation.

3. Development of the environmental management system.

4. Technical re-equipment and implementation of the best available technologies in environmental protection activities.

The Environmental Strategy includes achieving target indicators under both conservative and innovative scenarios for the development of environmental activities. The conservative scenario assumes that by 2035 the company’s freight volume will grow at relatively low average annual rates (+0.8%), while the innovative scenario assumes higher growth rates (+2%).

MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN 2023

The methodology of JSCo “RZD” for calculating greenhouse gas emissions was developed and approved.

An inventory of greenhouse gas emission sources of JSCo “RZD” was conducted and a report on greenhouse gas emissions of JSCo “RZD” was submitted.

Verification of the report “Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions from JSCo “RZD” Enterprises within the Far Eastern Railway in Sakhalin Region in 2022” was completed.

The work to eliminate 9 sites of accumulated environmental damage was completed.

611 units of modern traction rolling stock with improved environmental characteristics were purchased.

For the first time in the country, 2,613 condensers containing trichlorodiphenyl (135 tons) were disposed of in a specialized landfill in Shikhany, Saratov Region.

2 rubber waste recycling complexes were launched at Reshetnikovo and Smolensk stations.

40 boiler houses were converted to alternative heat sources, including 33 from coal to electric heating, 6 from fuel oil to gas, and 1 from diesel fuel to electricity.

Work was carried out at 21 sites of accumulated environmental damage, including design and survey work at 16 sites.

A network of recycling kiosks has been developing (216 units at 158 railway stations), 1.5 million plastic and aluminum containers have been collected and sent for recycling.

The requirements for container sites for temporary accumulation of solid municipal waste and secondary resources were approved.

Equipment was purchased to support the work of the production and environmental laboratories.

After modernization, the treatment facilities were put into operation at Khvoinaya station (Oktyabrskaya Railway), Yekaterinburg-Sortirovochny station (Sverdlovskaya Railway) and Kursk locomotive depot (Kurbakinskaya section of Moscow Railway).

Technical measures were taken to reduce the noise impact from railway transportation infrastructure:

  • laying of continuous welded rails (4.3 thousand km);
  • rail grinding (29.6 thousand km);
  • switch grinding (1.2 thousand units);
  • welding of rail joints by aluminothermic method (38.3 thousand);
  • use of highly elastic tie plates (18.4 million units);
  • planting of trees (7.4 thousand) and shrubs (10.7 thousand);
  • installation of noise barriers (over 19.2 km).

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS OF JSCo “RZD”

All-Russia competition of the best national practices “Reliable Partner — Ecology” in nominations: “Best Project for Reducing Negative Impact of Industrial, Housing and Utility Enterprises on Water Bodies”, “Best Project for Effective Solid Municipal Waste Management”, “Best Project in the Field of Ecotourism Development”.

International project (competition) of the Vernadsky Non-Governmental Environmental Foundation “Environmental Culture. Peace and Harmony” in the nominations: “Sustainable Business”, “Environmental Education”, “Ecotourism”.

In 2023, the company received the following environmental awards:

  • Letter of gratitude from the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic for active participation in the activities of the Federal Public Project “Clean Arctic”;
  • 1st place in the nomination “For Environmental Responsibility” in the All-Russian competition “Leader of Environmental Activities in Russia 2023”;
  • 1st place in the nomination “Best Manager in the Field of Ecology and Technosphere Safety” in the All-Russian competition of industrial safety leaders HSE TOP 100.

ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS UNITS OF JSCo “RZD”