site.btaEnvironmentalists Predict Higher Temperatures, Less Rainfall, Water Resources in Bulgaria

Environmentalists Predict Higher Temperatures, Less Rainfall, Water Resources in Bulgaria

Sofia, November 19 (BTA) - Bulgaria is among the EU countries
that rates lowest in terms of adaptation to global climate
change but ranks in the top in terms of renewable energy sources
 development, according to a survey by the Regional
Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). REC
Director Hristo Dounchev presented a climate change adaptation
ranking of EU countries at a BTA-hosted news conference on
Thursday.

The survey predicts higher temperature, less rainfall and water
resources in Bulgaria.

According to environmentalists, south of the Balkan Range
Mountains weather will become more Mediterranean and fertile
land in the north could become desert but not in the next five
to six years.

Agriculture, forestry, energy and tourism will be affected by
temperature and rainfall change, REC warns.

Dounchev said that climate change will lead to decimation of
more than half of the forests and a further decline of water
resources. The annual river debits will fall, decreasing access
to drinking water and affecting the operation of hydropower
facilities.

REC suggests adopting measures for prevention, organization of
work in wake of disasters, caused by climate change,
consequences and damage mitigation.