The Environmental Engineering Session of the Riga Technical University 54th International Scientific Conference “Environmental and Climate Technologies” will be held 14-16 October 2013. The Conference has been envisaged as a regular scientific forum and its main aim is to acquaint researchers with achievements in the area of energy systems and environmental engineering and to give the scientists, especially PhD students, an opportunity to publish the results of their research.

International scientific conference "Environmental and Climate Technologies" is traditionally held for several years, bringing together scientists and researchers from different countries. An overview of the scientific conference “Environmental and Climate Technologies 2012” can be found here.

The conference is organized within the project "Ecohousing".

Topic of Interest for the year 2013: Development of low carbon emission technologies

Climate change is one of the topics that lately causes the most interest and concern among all environmental problems raising heated discussions among scientists, politicians, and practitioners, as well as within society as a whole. The Environmental engineering session of the year 2013 will be devoted to the mitigation of climate change, focusing to the development of low carbon emission technologies. Scientists and practitioners reflect the development of low carbon emission technologies – pure technological solutions for the utilization of non-fossil energy sources and increasing energy efficiency.

Besides the topic listed above, the conference is open for any contributions related to environmental engineering. A variety of themes will be covered through a multi-disciplinary approach which integrates all aspects of environmental science:

Manuscripts are expected to be submitted at Online Submission System. Scientific articles will be peer-reviewed and once a manuscript will be accepted for publication, it will undergo language copyediting in order to provide the highest possible publication quality. Formatting rules for the articles are attached below.

Best submitted articles will be published in the international scientific journal of RTU "Environmental and Climate Technologies".The print version of the journal is published by RTU Press and the electronic version by Versita.

Special session "“Geological storage of CO₂ as a way to reduce carbon footprint”

Organized in collaboration with CGS Europe project

Returning the carbon originally extracted in the form of coal, oil or gas back deep underground can help to mitigate the current situation of large CO₂emissions disturbing the atmosphere and contributing to climate change and ocean acidification. The technology of Carbon capture and storage (CCS) consists of capturing CO₂ at coal or gas-fired power stations and industrial plants, then transporting it by pipeline or ship to a storage location. Finally, it is injected via a well into a suitably deep geological formation for long-term storage. CCS might provide the time needed to create a bridge to a worldwide economy based on renewable and cleaner energy.

The legal framework was set out by the European Directive on the geological storage of carbon dioxide in 2009, demonstration projects are underway and new ones are starting, so the uncertainties related to both the availability and distribution of storage capacity need to be reduced and knowledge of the rock properties and geological processes in various subsurface conditions needs to be improved. To facilitate the knowledge sharing and distribution and to better coordinate their research plans, leading European research institutes involved in CO₂ storage research have formed the CO2GeoNet association which has now gained additional support by an FP7 coordination action called CGS Europe. This is an infrastructure to share experiences, discuss the problems, to provide objective information to stakeholders and to map the research needs.

CO₂GeoNet is the European scientific body on CO₂ geological storage. It currently comprises 13 public research institutes from 7 European countries, and brings together over 300 researchers with the multidisciplinary expertise. With activities encompassing joint research, training, scientific advice, information and communication, CO₂GeoNet has a valuable and independent role to play in enabling the efficient and safe geological storage of CO₂. CO₂GeoNet was created in 2004 as a Network of Excellence supported by the EC FP6 programme for 5 years. In 2008, CO₂GeoNet became a non-profit association under French law. More about CO₂GeoNet at www.co2geonet.eu or www.co2geonet.com

From 2013, the membership of CO₂GeoNet is expanding thanks to the support of the FP7 CGS Europe project.

CGS Europe is a networking project that pools together the expertise of 34 key research institutes in the area of CO₂ geological storage across 28 countries (24 European member states and 4 associated countries). Funded by the EC FP7 programme, it builds upon the networking and integration experience of CO₂GeoNet with the ultimate goal of providing an independent, scientific, pan-European platform and reference source where national, European and international experts, institutes and regulators can access the most up-to-date results of CO₂ storage-related studies, share experiences and good practices, discuss the implementation of regulations, identify research needs to face upcoming challenges, and build new projects. More about CGS Europe at www.cgseurope.net

In order to apply for the conference as a speaker or to participate in the poster session, you need to submit the online application form and send the abstract of your theme to e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Important dates:

Registration Fee

*The registration fee is 70 EUR if the full paper is submitted till July 1.

**The registration fee is 100 EUR

***The registration fee is 50 EUR. In order to apply as a listener, please submit the online application form.

The registration fee covers a copy of the conference proceedings, admittance to all sessions, refreshment breaks, lunches.

Note! Additional 20 Euro payment is required when participating in the social event.

Conference fee payment can be paid via bank transfer. For bank account details and invoice please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Responsibility and Visa Requirements

If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact a Conference organizers Ieva Pakere, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Kristīne Dobrāja, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Phone: + 371 67089923; Fax: + 371 67089908

Address: Kronvalda blvd. 1, Riga, LV 1010, Latvia

The Plenary Session on 14th of October will take place at Riga Technical University, Kalku street 1.

See larger map

Section Chair: Gatis Bažbauers

Scientific Committee:

Organizing Committee:

The draft version of program can be found here.

Important! Small changes has be made regarding the programm on October 16. In case of any problemas, please contact ieva.pakere[@]rtu.lv