Russia to develop state permafrost monitoring system

MOSCOW. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Russia will develop a state system for background permafrost monitoring as part of the unified state environmental monitoring system, and the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) will supervise its development and operation, a statement published on the Russian government website on Thursday said.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the respective resolution.

"Such monitoring will enable a fuller understanding of how permafrost is changing due to global climate change, as well as how much greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere when permafrost thaws," the statement said.

This information will be used for modeling and forecasting climate change, averting negative implications from such changes on economic sectors and the quality of life, and facilitating construction and smooth operation of infrastructure in permafrost areas, which account for up to 65% of Russia's territory, it said.

"The background permafrost monitoring system will be a part of the unified state environmental monitoring system. Roshydromet will supervise the development and operation of the new system," the statement said.

Following a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum on September 3, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government ensure making legislative changes aimed at creating a state permafrost monitoring system based on the Roshydromet monitoring network.