Ever since global warming awareness rose to the international level, there's been quiet but persistent tittering among experts over whether climate change might actually be good for some regions. Given that the biggest of these regions has always been Russia, it's not a huge shock that Russia Todayjumped on the recent U.S. intelligence report
"Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World."
In particular, the Russian press loved the report's claim that within the next 17 years, Russia’s profit from climate change will be the biggest in the world. From the article:
One of the reasons is the expected lengthening of the sowing term, but the key factor would be an easier access to oil and gas fields in Siberia and in the North, including the Arctic shelf. This will be a great success for the Russian economy, according to the NSC report, and the Arctic waterway would also open huge prospects for Russia.
However, the authors of the study warn of the possible threats: the infrastructure of Russia’s Arctic territories may be destroyed, and also new technologies may be needed to exploit fuel fields in the area.
Yeah, there's always that downside... Related: RB: 20 Years Later, Andy Revkin Responds to Groundbreaking Global Warming Story RB: Global Warming Denial in the Senate: The Latest Chapter