A report released by the World Bank at the United Nation’s climate negotiations indicates that former Soviet states are suffering from climate change and will potentially worsen.

 

The impacts of being former Soviet states and environmental mismanagement are considered additional problems in light of climate change. The areas are expected to see more natural disasters, increased temperatures and raising sea levels. These changes are predicted to be exacerbated by so-called poor Soviet-era planning regarding construction, agriculture and infrastructure.

 

Temperatures have already risen in the last century by a degree in the southern former Soviet states and 2.9 degrees in Siberia. It is predicted that countries such as Poland and Hungary will see hot weather with heat waves across the countries. Days of frost are expected to decline to less than half their current numbers in colder areas.

 

Permafrost is expected to melt, endangering towns, and declining glaciers will impact water supplies. Increased rainfall in some areas will increase floods. In addition, rising sea levels are expected to put coastal communities in danger from storms and water supplies being flooded with sea water. Also, the Caspian Sea is expected to reduce by 18 feet because of evaporation.

 

The aforementioned natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, were rare in this part of the world. However, in the last decade, these former Soviet states have seen 40 to 60 natural disasters. Unfortunately, the area is considered ill-equipped to handle such issues brought on by climate change.