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G
overnance
and
P
olicy
in energy expenditure for air conditioning in the summer season for
a considerable proportion of settlements.
Among the advantages enjoyed by the RF in comparison to many
other countries are:
• An overall higher adaptation potential which can provide for large
portions of the territory
• The presence of considerable water resources
• The relatively low proportion of the population living on territo-
ries especially vulnerable to climate change.
Social groups, natural phenomena, economic infrastructures, and
elements of the state structure of the RF differ as regards the nature
and degree of their vulnerability to the unfavourable consequences
of climate change. Moreover, not all types of possible damage can
be evaluated today in monetary terms, and the evaluations of possi-
ble losses may themselves contain significant uncertainties. The
existence of such uncertainties should not become an obstacle for
providing an acceptable level of protection, as a measure of reason-
able precaution, for the more vulnerable territories, aspects and
social sectors. Particular attention should be paid to this while
evaluating vulnerability, developing and realizing lead time meas-
ures for preventing and neutralizing unfavourable consequences
of climate change.
On the other hand, in a situation of uncertainty, it becomes
especially important to provide decision makers not only with
objective information about current and predicted climate
changes but also with a proper interpretation of these, as well as
with clear indications of measures to be taken – adaptation, risk
management and others.
The Roshydromet Report – which is in essence the first
Russian National Assessment Report – made a significant contri-
bution to scientific argument underlying an important political
document: the Russian Federation’s Climate Doctrine. This was
also prepared by Roshydromet and approved by the session of
the Presidium of the Russian Government. With the long-term
perspective in mind, the Climate Doctrine project pays special
attention to the development and planning of measures for adapt-
ing to the consequences of climate change. Adaptation is the only
possible answer to many of these consequences. One of the top
priorities for RF climate policy is anticipatory adaptation with the
goal of minimizing losses and maximizing gains connected with
future climate changes, especially those which are unavoidable
in the near future.
Taking into account the dimensions of Russia’s territory,
its geographical location, the exceptional variety of climatic
conditions, economic structure, demographic peculiarities and
a range of other factors – the spectrum of tasks relating to
climate change adaptation on the country’s territory is extremely
broad. As such, alongside a variety of projects, the RF’s national
strategy must include the development of observation (above
all, observing extreme events), prediction and early warning
systems. Without these components, no adaptation project can
be effective. For example, probability forecasts for drought and
precipitation form the basis for adaptation projects in the sphere
of land use. Here, the most important role, besides develop-
ing predictive models, is played by climate observations, and
improving these – including improved organization in cases
where additional observations are necessary – is an essential
factor for successful adaptation measures.
Measures for climate change adaptation, including
those relating to RF collaboration with the interna-
tional community, are regulated by government
decisions. The planning, organization and implemen-
tation of adaptation measures, including proactive
adaptation, are carried out within the framework of
the RF’s state socioeconomic policy in the sphere
of climate. They take into account sector-specific,
regional and local peculiarities, as well as the long-
term nature of these measures, their scope, and how
deeply they impact on different aspects of the life of
society, the economy and the state.
The most important components in developing
and planning adaptation measures are evaluations
of: vulnerability to unfavourable consequences of
climate change and the associated risks of losses;
possibilities of benefiting from favourable conse-
quences of climate change; cost effectiveness and
practicality of relevant adaptation measures; and
adaptation potential, taking into account economic,
social and other factors which would impact on the
state, economic sectors and social groups.
Roshydromet takes an active role in undertaking
and clarifying the above mentioned evaluations, and in
delivering them to decision makers.
The Roshydromet Report is a significant contribution
to scientific argument
Image: Roshydromet