Meteorologist blames global warming for late snow accumulation in Moscow region

(Interfax – November 26, 2013) Global warming has delayed snow accumulation in the Moscow region for eight or nine days on average as compared with the second half of the 20th century, Hydro-Meteorological Center Director Roman Vilfand said.

“Climate change has shifted steady snow accumulation in the Moscow region by approximately eight or nine days over the past 20 years,” Vilfand told a press conference on Tuesday.

He said Moscow used to have steady snow accumulation on November 19-21 in the period from 1961 to the 1990s, and the date shifted to November 28 during the period from 1980 to the 2010s.

A “Conference of the Parties” meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ended on Sunday, the Hydro-Meteorological Center Director said. He said that was an extremely complex economic and political issue and the sides had so far failed to reach compromise but might do so next year.

“One may expect the next meeting, which is due in September 2014, to promote the signing of the post-Kyoto convention although states are still differing over the issue,” he said.

Global warming results from increased greenhouse gas emissions, primarily CO2, he said. The emissions may be reduced with waste-free production and energy saving technologies but they are expensive and emerging markets are not prepared to use them.

So, appeals to shift to waste-free production and energy saving technologies are addressed to developed states. This is the main point of disagreements, he said.

“Russia has taken a clear position. A presidential decree compels our country to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent in the period from 1990 to 2020. However, far from all countries are ready to do so,” Vilfand said.

The situation is not easy but there is still hope for compromise, he said.