Seventy-five Russian regions approve plans of adaptation to climate change

MOSCOW. May 14 (Interfax) - Seventy-five Russian regions have approved plans of adaptation to climate change, Alexander Kozlov, nominated for Russian natural resources and environment minister, said citing information of the Economic Development Ministry.

"Adaptation measures are necessary. Being aware of potential floods, we can build dams or make resettlement decisions. We can think about water conduits while preparing for a drought. We can reinforce underground facilities, as we forecast permafrost thawing. According to the Economic Development Ministry, 75 regions have approved adaptation plans," Kozlov said at the State Duma.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry told Interfax that Adygea, Ingushetia, Karachayevo-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Udmurtia, Kamchatka, and the Amur, Murmansk, Smolensk and Tyumen regions had yet to submit their plans.

Such measures are crucial, Kozlov said. "The scientific community clearly states that global temperatures will rise until at least the middle of the century. That is, no matter how much humanity tries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions today, these actions will affect the climate only in the second half of the century. Yes, this is extremely important for future generations, but completely insufficient for current ones," he said.