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| Moscow brings in artificial snow for New Year in mild winter | Moscow brings in artificial snow for New Year in mild winter |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Moscow authorities have dumped artificial snow in the city centre for New Year festivities, as this is now the Russian capital's warmest December since 1886. | The Moscow authorities have dumped artificial snow in the city centre for New Year festivities, as this is now the Russian capital's warmest December since 1886. |
| The delivery of snow by dumper truck is causing amusement on social media. | The delivery of snow by dumper truck is causing amusement on social media. |
| One tweet, from @WildWildMoscow, joked that now "you can buy anything with the Moscow budget - even winter". | One tweet, from @WildWildMoscow, joked that now "you can buy anything with the Moscow budget - even winter". |
| It is a far cry from "General Winter" - the famous subzero temperatures that helped to defeat Napoleon and Hitler. | It is a far cry from "General Winter" - the famous subzero temperatures that helped to defeat Napoleon and Hitler. |
| However, a light dusting of snow had fallen by Monday afternoon in Moscow, with more forecast later in the week. | |
| The head of Russia's weather forecasting agency, Roman Vilfand, says 2019 was Russia's warmest year on record. | The head of Russia's weather forecasting agency, Roman Vilfand, says 2019 was Russia's warmest year on record. |
| The mild Russian winter is seen as more evidence of global warming - part of a pattern that includes record ice-melting in the polar regions. | The mild Russian winter is seen as more evidence of global warming - part of a pattern that includes record ice-melting in the polar regions. |
| A strip of artificial snow now lies on one of Moscow's main avenues - Tverskaya. | A strip of artificial snow now lies on one of Moscow's main avenues - Tverskaya. |
| Similar snow "dumps" took place at the weekend at Red Square and some other sites in the city centre, which are being closed to traffic for the holiday. | Similar snow "dumps" took place at the weekend at Red Square and some other sites in the city centre, which are being closed to traffic for the holiday. |
| A senior city hall official, Alexei Nemeryuk, said the artificial snow on Tverskaya was "a small amount to create a snowboarding hill in time for the New Year celebrations". | A senior city hall official, Alexei Nemeryuk, said the artificial snow on Tverskaya was "a small amount to create a snowboarding hill in time for the New Year celebrations". |
| The snow was made by breaking ice at some of Moscow's skating rinks, especially the one at VDNKh, a big Soviet-era complex featuring exhibition halls and an amusement park. | The snow was made by breaking ice at some of Moscow's skating rinks, especially the one at VDNKh, a big Soviet-era complex featuring exhibition halls and an amusement park. |
| Read more on related topics: | Read more on related topics: |
| Mr Nemeryuk said snowboarders were already having fun on artificial snow dumped in Arbat Street, another Moscow landmark. | Mr Nemeryuk said snowboarders were already having fun on artificial snow dumped in Arbat Street, another Moscow landmark. |
| On 18 December the temperature in Moscow reached 5.6C, breaking a December record set in 1886. | On 18 December the temperature in Moscow reached 5.6C, breaking a December record set in 1886. |
| Colder weather is however expected around New Year, with snow flurries forecast. | Colder weather is however expected around New Year, with snow flurries forecast. |
| Some Muscovites quoted by the Moscow Times voiced disappointment at the authorities' efforts to give them a proper Russian winter feeling. | Some Muscovites quoted by the Moscow Times voiced disappointment at the authorities' efforts to give them a proper Russian winter feeling. |
| "It's not festive at all," said one, while another complained "it's already turned beige or gray". | "It's not festive at all," said one, while another complained "it's already turned beige or gray". |
| Earlier this month, Russian climatologist Vladimir Semyonov said "such winters are a direct consequence of global warming - they will happen more frequently". | Earlier this month, Russian climatologist Vladimir Semyonov said "such winters are a direct consequence of global warming - they will happen more frequently". |
| Speaking to RIA Novosti news agency, he said: "for the past 30 years the average winter temperatures in the Moscow region have risen by four degrees. That really is a lot. We've effectively jumped from December to November." | Speaking to RIA Novosti news agency, he said: "for the past 30 years the average winter temperatures in the Moscow region have risen by four degrees. That really is a lot. We've effectively jumped from December to November." |
| Putin warning on climate | Putin warning on climate |
| The Russian summer this year was, however, marked by unusually severe frosts. | The Russian summer this year was, however, marked by unusually severe frosts. |
| The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says mankind must limit global temperature rises to 1.5C to avoid dire environmental impacts. | The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says mankind must limit global temperature rises to 1.5C to avoid dire environmental impacts. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that climate change could cause Russia big problems. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that climate change could cause Russia big problems. |
| At his annual news conference on 19 December, he said the average temperature rise in Russia was more than double the global average. | At his annual news conference on 19 December, he said the average temperature rise in Russia was more than double the global average. |
| "We have whole towns inside the Arctic Circle built on permafrost. If that starts to melt, can you imagine what the consequences could be for us? Very serious [consequences]," he said. | "We have whole towns inside the Arctic Circle built on permafrost. If that starts to melt, can you imagine what the consequences could be for us? Very serious [consequences]," he said. |
| "We'll make efforts to minimise the consequences of these changes," he pledged. | "We'll make efforts to minimise the consequences of these changes," he pledged. |
| However, he also questioned the data pointing to human activity as a major factor in climate change. | However, he also questioned the data pointing to human activity as a major factor in climate change. |
| "Calculating how modern humanity is influencing global climate change is very difficult, if indeed it is possible at all," he said. | "Calculating how modern humanity is influencing global climate change is very difficult, if indeed it is possible at all," he said. |