Training of a new generation of environmental professionals as an important part of the national mineral and mining industry competitive advantages creation in the face of the present and future global challenges

Abstract

Introduction. The article presents the main national and global challenges that the Russian natural resources sector faces. The challenges are conditioned by environmental reasons and factors and have far-reaching environmental consequences. The data from open Russian and foreign sources was used to demonstrate the dynamics of various factors that have a direct or indirect impact on the Russian or global environment. These include the manufacturing work of the fuel and energy complex, mineral resources sector, and metallurgical complexes, as well as the volume of waste generation, including solid municipal waste and the volume of their processing, and the emission of greenhouse gases. The economic relationship is shown between industries and their impact on the environment, as well as the relationship between the government and business actions aimed at minimizing adverse environmental effects and their consequences. The main global economic and technological challenges the industry faces in this regard are as follows: increasingly restrictive environmental requirements, need for best available technologies to minimize the associated adverse environmental effects, reduce fossil fuels consumption, namely coal, oil and natural gas. Even more important, is the need to invest in a whole new human capital, in this case, in the training of a new generation of environmental professionals who might make a scientific and technical breakthrough in introducing green technologies. Results and analysis. The paper compiles and analyses major environmental challenges that countries, industries, and particular companies have been facing in the last 10–15–20 years. The indicated issues require new approaches, new technological and scientific breakthroughs, multi-billion investments, and bear multilateral risks. It is shown, a new generation of engineering ecology and ecological management professionals should be trained to address the associated challenges. The new generation of environmental professionals should focus on green and digital technologies, possess fresh views and professional skills, be broad-minded and able to confront the challenges of the time and rapidly changing circumstances. Conclusions. Analysis of the main national and global environmental challenges that the Russian mineral and mining industry faces, shows that new generation professionals’ training is a key pillar in the development of the industry’s competitive advantages. It can be generally stated, that for today there is an approved scientific and educational background that allows to move forward in the new circumstances in terms of training the environmental professionals able to address largescale environmental challenges of the future.