Meeting on approving and implementing World Bank technical assistance project «Preparedness of the Republic of Belarus to calamities and disasters» (hereafter – Project) with the World Bank Experts was held in Belhydromet on 11 July, 2018. The main aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Republic of Belarus to preparedness measures to calamities and disasters for improvement of weather forecasting, impact of risks, availability and dissemination of data and national disaster-reduction strategy. Expected grant assistance is about 500 thousand dollars. Project partners are Ministry for Emergency Situations of Belarus, Ministry of Forestry of Belarus and Belhydromet. Conceptualization of the Project is expected to be completed by fourth quarter of 2018, finalization and approval of the Project are scheduled for 2019. Lead time for the Project implementation – 2 years. Project has three components: 1.   Support a wide process of the political dialogue on disaster risk management in the Republic of Belarus. 2.   Improvement of the risk assessment and integrated information system of numerous risk factors registration. 3.   Improvement of hydrometeorological hazards and forest fires forecasting and provision of services. During the meeting, World Bank Experts informed the Belarusian side about their readiness to finance the purchase of mathematical model intended for flood forecasting for Belhydromet under the named Project. Also Belhydromet will receive financial support for the purchase of software system for the prediction of adverse and dangerous meteorological events used in European adverse and dangerous hazards warning system MeteoAlarm. The Project envisages funding of activities to improve the effectiveness of forest fires forecasting. Under the Project, World Bank experts will issue recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation of disaster risk management participants with the aim of improving the quality and prediction lead time of disasters of natural origin and minimizing their impact. During the meeting, Belhydromet expressed interest in the independent reviews of the Belhydromet effectiveness by World Bank experts and drafting proposals to improve its work including the recommendations to strengthen staff capacity, implement the activities for technology improvements, ameliorate legislative and methodical base. World Bank experts informed about such experience. Example of the World Bank’s experience in Armenia was mentioned where work on audit has been finished. The meeting was attended: by the World Bank - Operations Officer Faridun Sanginov, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Daniel Kull, Environmental Specialist Vladislava Nemova, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Alanna Simpson; by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection – chief of department on regulation of effects on the atmosphere, climate changes and expertise Sergey Zavyalov; by Ministry for Emergency Situations of Belarus – chief of international projects sector of international cooperation department Svetlana Shotskaya; by Belhydromet – head of Belhydromet Roman Labaznov, deputy head Svetlana Kuzmich, chief engineer Ivan Kondratovich, chief of hydrology and agrometeorology service Lyudmila Zhuravovich, chief of weather forecasting service Alexandr Beganskiy and some others.

Meteorological observations in Vasilevichi were started through the activities of West swamp drainage expedition led by lieutenant general Josef Ippolitovich Zhilinskiy in the late 19th century (1878). Station was founded by national of Kingdom of Denmark Magnus-Johann Gedeman who had come in Russia and had joined the swamp drainage expedition under control of its Chief lieutenant general Zhilinskiy in 1878. Primarily station settled down in the priest garden in the center of Vasilevichi village. Surrounding area was swampy plain in the territory of Pridneprovsk lowland. Gedeman started experiments in turning innings in the territory of Vasilevichi forestry into fertile land by the use of lime and ash. In course of time quite large amount of land was ready for economic use. Thereafter this land gave wonderful harvest.   In 1878 meteorological station had following instruments: barometer aneroid established in the observer house, thermometer shelter with zinc cage where Geissler psychrometer and hair hygrometer were placed. Wild's anemometer was installed at a height of 6, 2 m near the shelter. There were 3 rain gauges on the site. In addition, there were 4 evaporimeters – 2 on sandy soil and 2 on the peat moor. Observational data was used by professor Voyeykov in the article «Climate of Polesye» published in the collection «Work studies on West swamp drainage expedition» which was released in 1899. Professor recommended M. Gedeman for a decoration. Imperator bestowed the Order of Saint Anna (third class) upon him in April 1913. Despite the wars, political cataclysms and other problems, observations continued almost without interruption at the station. At the present time 7 people work at the station. They provide full range of meteorological, actinometrical, agrometeorological and hydrological observations. The station is benchmark and is only one in the Republic of Belarus referring to ground net of Global Climate Observing System. It was added to the bulletin of American Meteorological Society in October, 1997. All received data are transmitted by the station for compilation to Branch office «Gomeloblhydromet» of state institution «Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and environmental monitoring». In recognition of its contribution to high-quality observations for ground net agrometeorological station Vasilevichi was presented with certificate of the Global Climate Observing System Secretariat (Geneva, Switzerland) in 2005, in 2012 and 2014 it was awarded with diploma for first place, in 2013 – for second place and in 2015 for third place in the Republic-wide competition as the best agrometeorological division.

Seminar «Environmental classification of surface water bodies in pilot areas EUWI+ of Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova» was held in Kiev (Ukraine) on 19 and 20 June, 2018.  The main objective of the seminar was providing support in using methodology of Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the field of environmental classification of surface water bodies. During the seminar experience of Austria and other EU countries concerning the conduct of environmental classification of surface water bodies was examined as well as connections between hydrobiological and hydromorphological classifications and some other aspects of Water Framework Directive. Different phases of environmental classification (typing, identification and stress determination, framework and requirements for field and laboratory works, requirements for calculation of biometrics and biotic indexes), methodological aspects and accesses to each phase of the classification were discussed during this seminar. Questions on completeness of observation data and its accessibility, sampling strategies, requirements and indexes used to assessment of the hydrobiological, chemical and hydromorphological state of water bodies were raised. Innovative approaches in using of laboratory equipment for collection and analysis of hydrological samples were presented at this seminar. Participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with the methodological approaches of environmental classification of water bodies used in Ukraine and Moldova. Particular attention was paid to the role of hydromorphology in the process of WFD and its connection with hydrobiology, methodological aspects of hydromorphological observations. Hands-on exercises were provided on analysis of the hydromorphological status of rivers. Characteristics of realization of the WFD principles and methods in participating countries were also discussed at the seminar. 

From October 10-13, 2018 the exhibition of Belarusian manufacturers’ "Made in Belarus" will be held in Almaty. It’s a large-scale event, organized to present to Kazakhstan's business a potential of the Belarusian economy. The Exhibition is organized by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Exhibition operator is the Belinterexpo company of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Leading Belarusian companies will display their products and services in the fields of engineering and transport, chemistry and petrochemistry, wood processing, agriculture and food, consumer goods industry, medicine and pharmaceuticals, information technologies, education and sports, and tourism in the “Atakent Expo” exhibition center. Belarusian manufacturers’ exhibition “Made in Belarus” will become a good venue for business meetings and both formal and informal negotiations in the B2B format. The individual artistic design with elements of national symbols is used for the design of the exhibition. A wide advertising and information campaign of the event in Kazakhstan is to draw the attention of a large number of Kazakhstan business circles representatives to the exhibition. Kazakhstan is among the top three Belarusian economic partners among CIS countries after Russia and Ukraine. The trade between Belarus and Kazakhstan increased by more than 60% (in comparison with the same period of 2016) and exceeded $500 million in 2017. The balance was positive - the export of goods from Belarus amounted to more than $480 million. Belarusian tractors, furniture, ceramic tiles, dairy products , drugs are well known and demanded in Kazakhstan. In return, Kazakhstan supplies oil products, coal, cotton fiber. “The trade locomotive” is mechanical engineering. A whole assembly plants network has been created in Kazakhstan. In Kokshetau city agricultural machinery equipment are produced, "MAZ" trucks assembly is organized in Almaty, municipal vehicles are assembled in the special economic zone "Astana - new city". Two countries markets unify the common rules of the Eurasian Economic Union: customs standards are unified, there are no trade barriers. To participate in The Exhibition, please contact the Belinterexpo unitary enterprise: Mechanical engineering, instrument making, woodworking, consumer goods industry, science and education: Kristina Furs +37544 509-12-11, +375 17 334-82-03, kf@belinterexpo.by Mechanical engineering, instrument making, chemistry and petrochemistry, consumer goods: Karina Tsaruk +37544 509-12-13, +37517 290-72-57, kts@belinterexpo.by Mechanical engineering, instrument making, transport, construction, energy, pharmaceuticals, sports and tourism: Ekaterina Valueva +37544 509-12-05, +37517 290-72-57, kv@belinterexpo.by Food products, packaging: Daria Lokhman +37529 150-32-26, +37517 334-82-05, dl@belinterexpo.by Food products, equipment for the food industry: Anastasia Vorokh +37544 509-12-10, +37517 290-72-57, av@belinterexpo.by Website: www.belinterexpo.by Reference: An exhibition of this format was already held in Kazakhstan - in August 2016 in Astana. The event turned out to be a large-scale event: more than 70 domestic companies took part in the event, over 40 of them were well-known food producers. The forum was accompanied by business events, a cultural program and a broad advertising and information campaign in the mass media: 80 representatives of various media were accredited to the exhibition. Directly during the exhibition, more than 30 contracts and agreements of intent were signed. Multimillion-dollar contracts have been signed for the supply of Belarusian tractors, loaders, jewelry and food products to Kazakhstan.

Between 11 and 15 June 2018 Second International Scientific Conference entitled «Baltic Sea region in the transition period» on EU project «Baltic Earth» was held for countries which are parts of Baltic Sea basin in Helsingør (Denmark). Conference was organized by secretariat of project aimed at exploring Baltic Sea region, «Baltic Earth» with the support of Danish Meteorological University. Project «Baltic Earth» (formerly BALTEX) was launched in 1992 for research of climate and global changes in environment. Belarus has been taking part in most of the events and in the activities of project scientific group since 1993. There were 5 sections at the Conference in which questions of salinity dynamic of Baltic Sea, particularities of  biogeochemical cycle, repeatability and spread of meteorological and hydrological hazards, sea-level change,  channel processes and    erosion of coastal regions, regional specificities of water and energy cycles, climate modeling and drivers of natural environment change in the Baltic Sea region were discussed.  At the Conference Belhydromet was represented by Chief of Hydrology and Agrometeorology Service Zhuravovich Liudmila and Chief of Hydrological Monitoring Department Kvach Elena.

The Belarusian-Ukrainian hydrometeorological working group meeting was held in Belhydromet from June 12-14, 2018 The meeting was attended by: Svetlana Kuzmich - deputy head of Belhydromet, Yury Lesnichy - head of the Minsk Regional Branch of Belhydromet (the group leader), Alla Pavros - leading engineer of the hydrological monitoring department of Belhydromet (the reporter),  Elena Zubchenok - head of hydrological forecasting department (the group member), Mihail Kozyrev - head of hydrology group of Brest Regional Branch of Belhydromet (the group member), Olga Kalugina - head of hydrology department of Gomel Regional branch of Belhydromet (the group member). The Ukrainian side was presented by: Inna Vodolaskova - deputy head of the observation and hydrometeorological support department of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the gruop leader), Anatoly Prokopenko - deputy director of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the expert), Vladimir Voitovich - head of the Zhytomyr Regional Branch of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the group member), Ruslan Ovseenko - head of the Chernihiv Regional Branch the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the group member). The agenda of the Belarusian-Ukrainian hydrometeorological working group meeting included following issues: 1. Information upon changes in the national hydrometeorological services of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine. 2. The discussion of reports upon implementation of the Group's work plan in 2016-2017. 3. Harmonization of the plan for the exchange of regime-based hydrometeorological information. 4. Harmonization of the schedule of parallel and joint measurements of water discharge in transboundary areas 5. Exchange of information on the implementation of guidance documents in the field of hydrometeorology. 6. Harmonization of the changes in the Regulations on Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine on hydrometeorology. 7. Harmonization of the plan for the exchange of operational information. Analysis of work on the exchange of operational and forecast information during the spring flood in 2017 8. Exchange of experience in hydrometeorological support of consumers 9. Discussion of the draft work plan of the group for 2019. Preparation and signing of the minutes of the meeting and the Work Plan of the group for 2019.

Republic games for workers of organisations of Ministry of natural resources and environmental protection were held in Lida between 9 and 10 June, 2018. It was organized by: Ministry of natural resources and environmental protection, Sports and Tourism Ministry, Belarusian Union of  forest and environmental management workers. Minister of natural resources and environmental protection Andrey Hudyk, Chairman of Belarusian Union of  forest and environmental management workers Cheslava Goeva, Chairman of Lida district executive committee Mikhail Karpovich, Head of sports and tourism department of Lida District executive committee of Lida district executive committee Aleksandr Makey, chief judge of competition Igor Savras participated in the opening ceremony. Republic games were attended by 14 teams, among which combined teams of regions and  subordinate organisations of the Ministry. 7 kinds of sport were included in the games: volleyball, swimming, track and field relay race, pool, table tennis, darts and shooting. Team of State institution "Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and environmental monitoring" (Belhydromet) took part in all kinds of competitions. Team was composed of 17 persons. Head of Belhydromet Roman Labaznov, chairwoman of primary union organisation Natalia Olehnovich as well as representatives of the Administration and central administration union and of Belhydromet branches have represented and supported sports team. According to team rating Belhydromet sportsmen had made good progress and demonstrated their athletic instruction and rush of winning. By their own example the participants of competition showed that sport is an excellent way to keep in shape and stay healthy. Sport enhances self-confidence as well as gives you good spirit.

 On world oceans day, 30 UN agencies promised to abandon plastic products Every year, more than eight million tons of plastic waste is released into the seas and oceans June 8-world ocean day. In his message on this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled the problem of marine pollution and called for intensified efforts to save the seas and oceans from plastic. His appeal was also heeded by UN agencies. "Thanks to the oceans, our blue planet is unique in the entire Solar system, and not only visually. They help to regulate the global climate and are the primary source of water that supports all life on Earth: from coral reefs to snow - capped mountains, from tropical rainforests to mighty rivers and even deserts," - said in a message of the UN head. António Guterres warned today that due to climate change, pollution and unsustainable use of the oceans was under threat, He stressed that 80 percent of ocean pollution is due to waste, falling back from the land. Every year in the seas and oceans is about 8 million tons of plastic. This waste kills turtles and birds, whales and dolphins.  Together with the fish they get to our tables. The head of the UN warned that if you do not take decisive measures, then soon the plastic in the ocean will be more than living resources. The Secretary General urged to prevent this tragedy and strongly recommended to reduce the extent of pollution of the marine environment. He said that more than 30 UN agencies promised to abandon the use of disposable plastic products. Local residents in Kenya are involved in cleaning the coastal zone "Today, as in any day, you can change the situation for the better by doing a simple act: for example, take your own water bottle, your Cup for coffee, your plastic bags for purchases; hand over plastic products for recycling; refuse products containing microparticles of plastics; take part in cleaning the coastal zone," the head of the UN addressed to all the inhabitants of the planet. UN creates a coalition on climate change The world health organization (who), the United Nations environment Programme (UNEP) and the world meteorological organization (WMO) have announced the creation of a global coalition on health, environment and climate change, the website of the United Nations framework Convention on climate change reports. In 2017, the global average annual CO2 concentration exceeded 400 ppm and the average temperature was 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate change is affecting the economies of developing countries, and the cost of recovery from natural disasters, in particular tropical cyclones, reached a new record last year, according to WMO Secretary-General petteri Taalas. The head of WMO stressed that the world has 30 years to reduce its carbon footprint, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable energy. Who estimates that 7 million people die prematurely each year from air pollution-related diseases, including strokes and heart disease, respiratory diseases and cancer. Air pollution in most major cities exceeds who air quality standards. Many pollutants that are harmful to health contribute to climate change. Reducing emissions from sources such as transport, cooking equipment, agriculture and industry could help reduce global warming by about 0.5°C by 2050. The new global coalition will seek to pool expertise and improve coordination. Within the framework of the Association, WMO, who and UNEP are going to strengthen work aimed at protecting health from the risks associated with the negative impact of the environment and climate change. In particular, it is planned to organize more efficient climate services, for example, with the help of seasonal forecasts. They can be used to prepare for climate-related diseases such as cholera and malaria, or to warn of the health dangers of extreme heat. First of all, the coalition will pay attention to air quality. The Association is going to use the WMO observing network, its sand and dust storm warning Advisory and assessment system (SDS-WAS) and the global atmosphere service. Tropical cyclones slowed down speed Hurricanes in the Atlantic and the Pacific have become noticeably more dangerous to humans and nature in recent years due to the fact that global warming has dramatically reduced the speed of their movement, according to the journal Nature. "The main conclusion of our work is that the speed of movement of tropical cyclones over water and land decreased by 20% in the Atlantic, 30% in the North-West Pacific and 19% off the coast of Australia. As a result, rainfall has increased and floods have become more extreme. All this is deadly for people, " said James Kossin (James Kossin) from the NOAA weather and climate Center in Madison (USA). Over the past two years, the shores of North America have been constantly "bombarded" by powerful hurricanes, causing enormous economic damage to coastal cities and villages in America and causing great problems for populations of some rare animals, such as monarch butterflies. Only in August and September last year in the Atlantic there were just four powerful hurricanes of the fourth and fifth categories of danger, Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria, who left the island of Puerto Rico without electricity and created a potentially catastrophic situation on the Atlantic coast of the United States and Mexico. Kossin found out why tropical hurricanes and associated floods have become so destructive in recent years, analyzing how global warming and related phenomena, including rising air and water surface temperatures, have affected the behavior of typical Atlantic and Pacific cyclones.Studying the hurricanes that raged in the waters of the two oceans from 1949 to 2016, the scientist noticed that the speed of their movement gradually fell as the movement from the past to the present, generally decreasing by about 10% across the Earth. After analyzing the changes in the character of the movement of the winds and the storms in each of the regions, the climate scientist concluded that this occurred through the "fault" of global warming.His calculations show that the increase in water and air temperature has led to the fact that the wind, "conducting" migrations of hurricanes, noticeably weakened and began to move at a slower speed than before. Together with them, the cyclones themselves slowed down. As the climatologist explains, a decrease in the speed of the hurricane even by 10% leads to catastrophic consequences – the typical level of precipitation doubles, and the probability of occurrence of floods increases by several orders of magnitude. In addition, the decrease in the speed of the cyclone causes another dangerous phenomenon-due to the weakening of the "conducting" winds, the hurricane often changes the direction of "flight" and periodically returns back, which causes another series of destruction in the already flooded regions. Something similar, as Kossin notes, happened in Texas with hurricane Harvey. In the future, according To kossin's forecasts, the situation will be even more difficult. Now the average annual temperature on Earth is only 0.5 degrees higher than in the middle of the last century, while by the end of this century they can grow by 1.5-3 degrees. As a result, hurricanes will become even slower and longer-lived, making them even more destructive than they have become in recent years.

In connection with the fire on June 5, 2018 in the territory of Ukraine in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the State institution "Republican сenter for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and еnvironmental monitoring" reports: At 09 hours on June 6, 2018, the radiation situation in the Gomel region, as well as in the whole of the republic of Belarus, remains stable. According to the data of stationary observation stations for radiation monitoring and measuring points of the automated radiation monitoring system located in the border areas of Belarus in the zone of influence of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the excess of the dose rate levels of gamma radiation over long-term values ​​has not been recorded. The radiation background on the territory of the republic of Belarus is under constant control.

World Environment Day is considered one of the most important events of the ecological calendar. It is celebrated annually on June 5 in more than 100 countries. On December 15, 1972, the General Assembly declared June 5 World Environment Day, the purpose of which was to increase public awareness of the need to preserve and improve the environment. The choice of this date is justified by the fact that it was on 5 June, for the first time, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972), which was followed by the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). World Environment Day is one of the main ways to attract world attention to environmental problems. Environmental protection is a nationwide task, the importance of which can not be overemphasized. In solving environmental problems, a great deal depends on the position of each individual person, who can significantly change both his attitude towards environmental issues, and, ultimately, the state of the environment. The celebration of each World Environment Day is organized around a theme focused on the most pressing environmental issue. The motto of the World Environment Day 2018 is "Fighting Plastic Contamination." This slogan is a call to action for each of us, a call to fight one of the greatest environmental problems of our time together. This theme appeals to each of us, offering to think about how we can change our daily lives to alleviate the overwhelming burden of plastic pollution lying on the surrounding nature, wild animals, and even on our own health. Global plastic contamination in figures: -Annually up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used -Annually 13 million tons of plastic fall into the world ocean -17 million barrels of oil are used annually for plastic production -1 million plastic bottles are bought every minute -Every year, plastic kills 100,000 marine animals -Decomposition of plastic in the environment occurs in the course of 100 years -According to studies, 90% of bottled water contains plastic particles -According to studies, 83% of tap water contains particles of plastic -50% of consumer plastic products - disposable -10% of all waste generated by mankind - plastic waste To defeat pollution by plastic, it is necessary to rethink cardinally our approach to the development, production and use of plastic products. Pollution by plastic is the main environmental problem of our time. Official events dedicated to the celebration of World Environment Day will be held this year in India. India is very encouraged by the opportunity to host celebrations on the occasion of World Environment Day, Indian philosophy and way of life have long been based on the principle of coexistence with nature. The Government of India has pledged to organize and promote celebrations in honor of World Environment Day through a series of interactive activities and events generating high public interest and involvement. From all-Indian initiatives for cleaning plastics in public places, national reserves and forests, to simultaneous cleaning of beaches - India will lead the initiative with its own example. Along with the world community on June 5, all Belarusian nature advocates, environmentalists, public figures and ecologists also celebrate their professional holiday. In our country, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus marks the Day of Environmental Protection on June 5, and its celebration coincides with the celebration of World Environment Day. Reference: By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 02.02.2000 No. 35 "On the introduction of additions and changes to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of March 26, 1998 No. 157", the list of holidays is supplemented with the Day of Environmental Protection - June 5. Traditionally on this day it is customary to hold various actions and measures to protect the environment, calling not to pass by the problems of the ecological situation, but to take the path of their solution. This year, the holiday of June 5 for the republic is of special importance, so far as 2018 in Belarus is declared the Year of the Little Motherland. The contribution to the environmental protection and Belhydromet staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus is significant. Belhydromet specialists carry out monitoring of the physical, chemical and biological (for water bodies) processes occurring in the environment and provide the state administration bodies, organizations of various sectors of the economy and the population with operational forecast information. Belhydromet congratulates colleagues on the Day of Environmental Protection and expresses gratitude to all those who devote their lives to caring for the environment. We call on all to live in harmony with nature, without violating its laws and regulations, to use its wealth rationally, in order to preserve our planet for future generations.