On August 10-11, 2022, the 73rd meeting of the joint board of the Union State Committee on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Pollution Monitoring was held in Irkutsk (Russian Federation). For reference: for 26 years, the joint board has been a platform for constructive dialogue, solving hydrometeorological issues of Belarus and Russia, exchanging experience, discussing current activities and promising scientific developments, as well as building friendly relations between the two countries. The meeting was opened by  head of Roshydromet Igor Shumakov . Welcoming the participants of the meeting, he noted that the hydrometeorological services of Russia and Belarus, despite the sanctions pressure, remain among the leaders of the world hydrometeorological services. "For the main consumers of our information, both professional and non-professional, nothing has changed. What it cost us, only we know, but, nevertheless, as we were among the world leaders of hydrometeorological services, we remain so," Shumakov said. He also stressed that the hydrometeorological services of Russia and Belarus work as a whole, which also allows overcoming difficulties. The head of the Belhydromet, Tamara Gomonova, noted that her department receives full support from the Roshydromet. "If we have any questions, we always get in touch and get competent help and support. And in the future we will only deepen our cooperation," she said. The participants of the event reviewed the program for ensuring hydrometeorological safety in conditions of climate variability and change for 2023-2027, the results of the implementation of the program "Development of the hydrometeorological safety system of the Union State" for 2017-2021. In addition, the agenda of the joint board included reports on "Increasing the number of observation points on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, data from which will be received for international exchange, and practical results achieved as a result of the expansion of the state observation network of the Republic of Belarus", "On the experience of using the CliWare system in the interests of various categories of users and the directions of its further development and modernization; "On the use of satellite data for monitoring the territory of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation" and others. The decisions adopted at the Board will further improve the efficiency of information exchange of data and the development of services, strengthen cooperation in the field of climate change in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The next meeting of the joint board of the Union State Committee on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Pollution Monitoring is scheduled to be held in the IV quarter of 2022 in the Republic of Belarus. Some photos are taken from the website of Roshydromet https://www.meteorf.gov.ru/  

  Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus is a holiday of Belarusian statehood, which is celebrated annually on July 3 . July 3 is a historically significant date in the fate of Belarus. The date has become a symbol of freedom and peace. On this day in 1944, the troops of Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky and General of the Army Ivan Chernyakhovsky liberated the city of Minsk from Nazi invaders. For reference. Until the end of 1996, Independence Day in the republic was celebrated on July 27 - the day the Declaration of Sovereignty was adopted in 1990, but at the republican referendum, the majority of the inhabitants of our country decided to celebrate the holiday on July 3. Belarusians paid a high price for the victory in the Great Patriotic War. According to updated estimates, every third inhabitant of the country died, of which about a million were children under 18 years old... The culmination of the victory was the liberation of Minsk. Residents of the capital arranged a grandiose meeting for the liberators. In one of the military reports, this was described as follows: "The tanks looked like huge bouquets of flowers, and not like formidable fighting vehicles." With special solemnity, Independence Day in Belarus is celebrated on anniversaries - 60, 65, 70 and 75 years from the date of liberation from German occupation. Belhydromet congratulates you on the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus! We celebrate this holiday, glorifying our heroes who overcame the terrible difficulties of the war in order to liberate their native land! We wish you good health, prosperity and a peaceful sky above your head!

June 22   is a mournful date in Belarus - the Day of National Remembrance of the victims of the World War II and the genocide of the Belarusian people . At dawn on June 22, 1941, Germany fascist violated the non-aggression pact and began a war against the Soviet Union. In the first hours of the war, Brest and the fortress were subjected to massive shelling and air bombardment. The heroic garrison of the Brest Fortress stubbornly fought the enemy for more than a month. During the World War II the hydrometeorological service of Belarus suffered heavy losses. About 300 skilled workers were lost; over 85% of stations and 90% of posts were completely destroyed; most of the valuable equipment and fund of scientific and technical materials were destroyed or taken to Germany. Only by the end of 1944, thanks to the work carried out, the hydrometeorological service of Belarus was basically restored. Belhydromet honors the memory of those who, at the cost of their lives, fulfilled their duty to defend the Motherland. The All-Belarusian minute of silence will be held on June 22, 2022 at 12.00. Everyone can take part in a moment of silence. At 12.00 you need to stop for a minute and honor the memory of those who died during the war. When using the information reference to Belhydromet is obligatory

Wind is one of the alternative and inexhaustible sources of energy. Today, wind power plants (WPPs) operate successfully in almost 80 countries around the world, thousands of people are involved in the production of wind energy. The world leaders in terms of the capacity of operated wind turbines are China, the USA, Germany and Spain. In Belarus , wind energy has also been developed: 112 wind power plants with a total capacity of 127 .4 MW operate on the territory of the country, the largest of which (Mstislavsky district) reaches a capacity of 3.4 MW. Over the past 5 years, the generation of electricity by windmills has increased 20 times. A new wind farm with a capacity of 25 MW will appear in the Liozno district of the Vitebsk region by the end of 2022. Within the framework of the PRON/GEF international technical assistance project “Removing Barriers to the Development of Wind Energy in the Republic of Belarus”, an Atlas of Wind Potential was developed. The initiators of the creation of the holiday were the European Wind Energy Association and the World Wind Energy Council. The development of the electric power industry will help solve a number of global environmental and economic problems, including the problem of limited fossil fuel resources. Here are some indicators: - in 2019, 48% of all electricity was produced in Denmark with the help of wind turbines, in Ireland - 33%, in the EU as a whole - 15%. - The International Renewable Energy Agency predicts that more than a third of the world's electricity needs will be covered by wind power by 2050. - the largest wind turbine under development at the beginning of 2021 is the Danish model for offshore wind energy Vestas V236-15.0 with a record capacity of 15 MW, the production of the first prototype is planned as early as 2022.

The problem of climate change is one of the urgent and global problems facing man. An increased content of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitric oxide) has a negative impact on food security, human life and the state of natural resources, leading to a change in climatic conditions and, as a result, an increase in the frequency of dangerous climatic events. Particular attention should be paid to the problem of the ozone layer thinning, which serves as the main protection against dangerous ultraviolet radiation. Over the past more than a hundred years, there have been intense changes in climatic conditions around the globe, and new climate records are increasingly being set. International Climate Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness of climate change. Image is for illustrative purposes only Preservation of the Earth's climate depends on each person. What can everyone do? – Plant a tree, reuse things, use energy-efficient lighting sources, protect green spaces, do not litter. When using the information, reference to Belhydromet is obligatory  

World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. The theme of the World Water Day 2022: “Groundwater, making the invisible visible”. Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers, which are geological formations of rocks, sands and gravels that hold substantial quantities of water. Groundwater feeds springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Groundwater can be extracted to the surface by pumps and wells. Most arid areas of the world depend entirely on groundwater. Groundwater supplies a large proportion of the water we use for drinking, sanitation, food production and industrial processes. Our goal is to protect them from overexploitation – abstracting more water than is recharged - and the pollution that currently haunts them, since it can lead to the depletion of this resource and sometimes even preventing its use.   On March 22, World Water Day, the UN report on the state of the world's water resources will be presented, as well as recommendations for effective policy measures in this area. In Belarus, much attention is paid to the issues of conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ecological systems, climate impact mitigation and adaptation to a changing climate, including in terms of water resources management. As part of the State Program "Environmental Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources" for 2021-2025 years, the Ministry of Natural Resources has developed a project to mitigate the impact on the republic's water resources in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals until 2030.  

Extreme weather, climate and water events are becoming more frequent and intense in many parts of the world as a result of climate change. More of us than ever before are exposed to a myriad of collateral hazards, which are evolving as a result of population growth, urbanization and environmental degradation.  Forecasts of what the weather will be like are no longer enough. Impact-based forecasts that inform the public about what the weather will do are vital to saving lives and livelihoods. However, every third people aren’t still sufficiently covered by early warning systems.  Closer coordination between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, disaster management authorities and development agencies is fundamental to improve prevention, preparedness and response. COVID-19 has compounded the challenges facing society and weakened coping mechanisms. The pandemic has also shown that, in our interconnected world, we need to take a truly multifactorial and cross-border approach in order to make progress towards global climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development goals. Being prepared and able to act can save many lives and protect the communities around the world, now and in the future. Thus, World Meteorological Day on March 23, 2022 is dedicated to the theme "Early Warning and Early Action" and highlights the vital importance of hydrometeorological and climate information for disaster risk reduction. WMO members include 187 States. Belarus has been a WMO member since 1948. On this day, March 23, our country also celebrates the Day of Workers of the Hydrometeorological Service of the Republic of Belarus . The holiday was established in 2012. This day reminds of the need for meteorological research, as well as the importance of preserving the atmosphere and hydrosphere of the planet.  

On December 31, 2021, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree declaring 2022 the Year of Historical Memory. The moment of signing was shown on television as part of the broadcast of the New Year's address of the head of state to the Belarusian people. The decree notes that the Year of Historical Memory is declared in order to form an objective attitude of society towards the historical past, to preserve and strengthen the unity of the Belarusian people.

World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5 to remind the world community of the importance of soil resources and the role they play in preserving ecosystems and ensuring the growth of human well-being. The history of this day originates in 2002, when the corresponding resolution was adopted by the International Union of Soil Sciences. Scientists then drew attention to the need to understand the importance of the planet's soil resources at the international level. Their task was to reassess the understanding, both by ordinary citizens and by the authorities of all countries of the world, of the role that soil resources play in the life of a person and state, as well as in the ecosystem of the planet. Only the awareness of the importance of preserving the planet's soil resources can radically change the policy of the ruling structures of any state in this area. The resolution of the International Union of Soil Sciences was supported by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Together with Thailand, this organization took the UN initiative to establish a day dedicated to the problem of soil resources of the Earth. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 5 as World Soil Day. A more detailed acquaintance with the reports of the FAO representatives made many people realize the real role of soil in the life of mankind. Soils are one of the fundamental structures of the ecosystem, providing living space for humans and the world of flora and fauna, maintaining biological diversity, the main component of the production of feed and food, one of the conditions for safety and sustainability in the face of unfavorable climatic factors, etc. The soil cannot be viewed simply as a stable foundation under a person's feet. Desert - also provides sustainability, but deprives a person of the opportunity to grow food. That is, the factor of land fertility plays one of the key roles in our life. From this point of view, ecologists and FAO representatives are concerned that about a third of the world's soil resources are degrading, and some are subject to desertification. Salinization and soil codification are major ecosystem-threatening soil degradation processes and are recognized as some of the most important global issues for agricultural production, food security and resilience in arid and semi-arid regions. The topic of December 5, 2021 is “Stop soil salinization, raise soil productivity”. Saline soils - soils with an excessive content of readily soluble mineral salts. Salts penetrate into the soil from underground deposits, together with precipitation and from underground waters. Especially prone to soil salinization in coastal areas near the seas and oceans. Mineral substances get into the soil and watering plants. Almost all water in the world contains impurities, so salinization of any soil is inevitable. Protection of soil fertility is an important issue for Belarus. More than 40% of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, a significant part of which is drained peatlands. The issue of soil pollution is also relevant, especially in the context of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In accordance with regulatory legal acts, observations of the chemical pollution of soils in the Republic of Belarus are carried out by the state institution "Republican Center for Hydrometeorology, Radioactive Contamination Control and Environmental Monitoring" subordinate to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus on the networks of observation points formed for points, background areas and roadside strips of highways. Systematic observations are carried out at more than 1100 observation points on the territory of 34 cities of the republic - regional centers, cities with a population of 50 or more thousand people, as well as settlements with a population of less than 50 thousand, in which large industrial enterprises are concentrated (Krichev, Beloozersk, Novolukoml, Volkovysk, Kalinkovichi, Luninets, Kostyukovichi, Rogachev, Berezovka, Krasnoselsky). The monitoring network for soil chemical pollution in the background areas includes 90 observation points (15 points in each administrative region) in areas characterized by a minimum anthropogenic load with natural soil cover and vegetation. Observations of the chemical contamination of the soils of the roadside strips of the republic's highways are carried out on 22 soil profiles (observation points) in the zones of influence of highways of republican significance with different traffic intensities. Some figures for soils from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Soils directly or indirectly provide 95% of human food. About 1/3 of our food becomes waste, and almost half of household waste can be recycled into compost that feeds the soil. By 2050, the world's population will exceed 9 billion people, and agricultural production worldwide will increase by about 60%. Soils are the habitat of about 1/4 of all biological species on our planet. There are more living organisms in one teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on planet Earth. 33% of soils worldwide are moderately to severely degraded due to erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification, chemical pollution and nutrient depletion. Every year the Earth loses 24 billion tons of fertile soil. Every hour in Europe, expanding cities take over 11 hectares of soil. Land-use changes and drainage of organic soils for cultivation are responsible for about 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Rational use of soil resources (increasing the content of soil organic matter, maintaining vegetation on the soil surface, wisely using nutrients, promoting the organization of crop rotations, combating erosion) can increase yields by an average of 58%. More information about the critical role of soils for the existence of the biosphere on our planet can be found on the website of the International Year of Soils. Protection of soil fertility is an important issue for Belarus. More than 40% of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, a significant part of which is drained peatlands. The issue of soil pollution is also relevant, especially in the context of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Scientists of Belarus are actively working in such promising areas as sustainable farming, organic farming, precision farming. Some figures for soils from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Soils directly or indirectly provide 95% of human food. About 1/3 of our food becomes waste, and almost half of household waste can be recycled into compost that feeds the soil. By 2050, the world's population will exceed 9 billion people, and agricultural production worldwide will increase by about 60%. Soils are the habitat of about 1/4 of all biological species on our planet. There are more living organisms in one teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on planet Earth. 33% of soils worldwide are moderately to severely degraded due to erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification, chemical pollution and nutrient depletion. Every year the Earth loses 24 billion tons of fertile soil. Every hour in Europe, expanding cities take over 11 hectares of soil. Land-use changes and drainage of organic soils for cultivation are responsible for about 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Rational use of soil resources (increasing the content of soil organic matter, maintaining vegetation on the soil surface, wisely using nutrients, promoting the organization of crop rotations, combating erosion) can increase yields by an average of 58%. More information about the critical role of soils for the existence of the biosphere on our planet can be found on the website of the International Year of Soils. Protection of soil fertility is an important issue for Belarus. More than 40% of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, a significant part of which is drained peatlands. The issue of soil pollution is also relevant, especially in the context of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Scientists of Belarus are actively working in such promising areas as sustainable farming, organic farming, precision farming.