Global Warming Could Lead to Home Destruction in Russia’s Arctic Circle

Average temperatures in the Arctic could increase by 7 degrees centigrade by the end of the century.

MOSCOW, November 26 (Sputnik) – More than 25 percent of old houses in large Russian cities above the Arctic Circle could be in danger of collapse due to permafrost thawing, a statement released by the Ministry of Emergency Situations on Wednesday said.

According to the ministry statistics, the process of warming is now twice as fast in Russia as it was 100 years ago, with the most noticeable effect in northern regions. The pace of warming in regions above the Arctic Circle is anticipated to be 2-2.5 times faster than the rest of the world, according to scientific data.

Temperatures in the Arctic could see a 7 degree centigrade increase by the end of the century. Global climate changes have already caused an increase in large-scale natural disasters in Russia, mainly floods and wildfires, the ministry reports.

“More than a quarter of old residential buildings, built in the 1950-1970s, could be under threat of destruction in cities such as Yakutsk, Vorkuta, Tiksi and others,” said a member of the ministry’s Department of Civil Protection, as quoted in the report.

On average, more than 100 emergencies take place annually in Russia’s Arctic region, according to ministry statistics.

The total value of natural resources situated in Russia’s far north exceeds $30 trillion, according to ministry data. Gradually most of Russia’s gas and oil extraction will shift to the Arctic offshore, where 11 percent of the country’s national income and 22 percent of exports are currently produced, the ministry reports.

For comparison, the volume of the global economy in 2012 was $70 trillion. According to a 2013 IMF forecast, Russia’s GDP for 2014 could exceed $2.3 trillion, with the potential to reach $3.2 trillion in 2018.