Aerial view of melting permafrost. Ronald Aveling / icestories.exploratorium.edu

Moscow, January 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) – Temperatures in Russia in the past century rose at twice the rate of warming in the rest of the world, the emergencies ministry said. “Despite ongoing discussions in the scientific community about the nature and long-term outlook for global climate change, the fact of global warming itself is uncontroversial,” the ministry said in its forecast of emergency situations in 2012. “Average warming in Russia in the past 100 years was 1.5 to two times higher than overall global warming,” the forecast read. “In addition, as compared to the 100-year trend, the rate of warming grew several times, annual precipitation figures are growing … as is the frequency and intensity of flooding.” Temperatures will continue to grow in Russia throughout the 21st century, with Siberia and Arctic Russia being most affected, according to the report. “Water resources will increase in regions with higher precipitation, while arid zones, on the contrary, will face further precipitation decline,” it said.

Russia warming at alarming pace