Meteorological network upgrade in the Arctic to require 3.5 billion rubles
© RIA Novosti. Mihail Mokrushin

Meteorological network upgrade in the Arctic to require 3.5 billion rubles

There are plans to allocate 3.5 billion rubles through 2020 to upgrade the hydro-meteorological monitoring network in the Russian Artic, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi told RIA Novosti.

"The Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring has worked out a set of measures to ensure effective environmental protection of the Russian Arctic and provide for reliable data on the current state of the environment and pollution there. The measures are aimed at upgrading and developing the system of state monitoring for 2016-2020. The program requires 3.5 billion rubles in funding and will allow the authorities and population to obtain reliable, timely and relevant information about the climate," Mr. Donskoi said.

The program for 2016-2020 includes upgrading the hydro-meteorological monitoring network; satellite centers of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring; the state network of air monitoring stations in populated localities of the Russian Arctic; and stations for monitoring cross-border pollution.

"Proposals on including the measures in the new version of the state program, Social and Economic Development of the Russian Arctic through 2020, have been submitted to the Economic Development Ministry," the minister stated.