About 60 experts in different areas took part in a meeting as part of work on a draft of the regional law on permafrost. The initiative was aimed to determine the legal basis for the regulation of permafrost in order to preserve it.
The problem of thawing permafrost requires immediate actions, since 65% of the area of Russia is located exactly in the permafrost zone. Thawing of the upper layers of soil damages roads and railroads, utilities and buildings. There are even more serious incidents: the accident in Norilsk, the outbreak of anthrax, gas release craters in Yamal and many others. Scientists estimate that by 2050 the damage from the degradation of the permafrost in Russia will total to at least five billion rubles.
It is impossible to stop this process completely, since it is closely connected with global climate change. But the experts consider it is quite manageble to ensure the safety of people and infrastructure. To do this, it is necessary to develop requirements to construction works, unify methods of monitoring buildings and engineering structures, predict the degradation of permafrost layers, and develop technical solutions to protect facilities.
"Permafrost thawing is a serious problem, one that even scientists have a hard time approaching. Not long ago, the relevant committee of the State Duma approved a bill on monitoring permafrost, but as it turned out at the meeting, given the pace of climate change, monitoring alone may not be enough. At the current time there is no federal law which would regulate permafrost issues such as conditions and types of permissible economic activities, working standards, staffing for research and eco-monitoring and so on," said Sergei Rafanov, director of the Climate Security Fund.
The Climate Security Fund presented its proposals to the bill during the discussion. After finalization, taking into account all received comments, the document will be submitted to the legislators of the region.
The problem of thawing permafrost requires immediate actions, since 65% of the area of Russia is located exactly in the permafrost zone. Thawing of the upper layers of soil damages roads and railroads, utilities and buildings. There are even more serious incidents: the accident in Norilsk, the outbreak of anthrax, gas release craters in Yamal and many others. Scientists estimate that by 2050 the damage from the degradation of the permafrost in Russia will total to at least five billion rubles.
It is impossible to stop this process completely, since it is closely connected with global climate change. But the experts consider it is quite manageble to ensure the safety of people and infrastructure. To do this, it is necessary to develop requirements to construction works, unify methods of monitoring buildings and engineering structures, predict the degradation of permafrost layers, and develop technical solutions to protect facilities.
"Permafrost thawing is a serious problem, one that even scientists have a hard time approaching. Not long ago, the relevant committee of the State Duma approved a bill on monitoring permafrost, but as it turned out at the meeting, given the pace of climate change, monitoring alone may not be enough. At the current time there is no federal law which would regulate permafrost issues such as conditions and types of permissible economic activities, working standards, staffing for research and eco-monitoring and so on," said Sergei Rafanov, director of the Climate Security Fund.
The Climate Security Fund presented its proposals to the bill during the discussion. After finalization, taking into account all received comments, the document will be submitted to the legislators of the region.