Minister: Climate changes may cost Russia 1–2% of GDP per year

ROME, Jul 4 (PRIME) – The current climate changes threaten Russia with losing 1–2% of gross domestic product (GDP) per year, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov said late on Monday at the 40th session of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

“Russian research of the climate change consequences for the economy of our country until 2030 demonstrate a threat of losing 1–2% of GDP per year on average. The growth of extreme weather events, the degradation of soil, the spread of diseases of plants and animals and pests are all threats to the agriculture,” he said.

The 2016 average temperature on Earth was the highest in all history of observations, and the speed of the increase of Russian temperature is 150% higher than the world average, he said.

He also said that the Paris agreement will unite efforts of all countries in the world in preventing climate changes.

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