Russia warns of temperature rise in Arctic, more wildfires
Russian authorities warn of a temperature rise in the Arctic, which will lead to more natural fires in 2022.
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On average, over 100 natural and technological emergencies occur annually in the Russian Arctic.
Russia's Emergency Ministry warned Friday that a further temperature increase due to global climate change is expected in the Arctic zone of Russia in 2022, reported Sputnik.
According to the Russian Ministry, this increase will lead to a growing number of natural fires.
"Our experts expect a further climb in the average annual temperature across Russia and in the Arctic zone, where a growing number of natural fires is anticipated," the ministry's press service pointed out.
On average, over 100 natural and technological emergencies occur annually in the Russian Arctic, with a recent steady increase in human-made emergencies transport accidents, the agency mentioned.
According to Sputnik, transport accidents are most frequent and represent 30 percent of all such incidents, while explosions and fires of technological equipment are the second most frequent and represent 24 percent of all accidents in the Arctic.
UN sounds alarm as temperature rises
The United Nations officially recognized, two weeks ago, that the 38°C measured in Siberia in 2020 as a new record high for the Arctic, prompting the agency to sound "alarm bells" over climate change.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the tropical-like heat was recorded in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk in June 2020, recording the highest temperature ever above the Arctic circle of latitude.
The UN agency said this was the first time it had added record Arctic heat to its archive of extreme weather reports. This comes as the world is hit by an unprecedented wave of record temperature spikes, which have caused droughts, mega-fires, health issues, and exacerbated displacement and poverty.
"This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate," WMO Chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement.
