Climate changes are a global problem, but they present a local threat and their consequences have been already visible in our closest surrounding, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Deirdre Boyd, said Friday at a promotion of the study: Assessing the Economic Impact of Climate Change.

The study is part of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for building the analytic, institutional capacity of transition countries in regard to assessing the economic impact of the climate changes.

The study offers preliminary assessments of the impact of climate changes in three areas of the economy: energy, water resources and agriculture, recommending for policy makers to focus on improving the energy efficiency. It aims to set ground for more detailed analysis of the climate changes, thus connecting their physical impact and the economic effects.

"The science clearly says that the climate changes are here and getting worse, while the time is not on our side. They bring changes that are faster and more global than anything that has happened worldwide for thousand years. Possible damages the climate changes may bring to agriculture, human health, energy, forestry and tourism will substantially burden the national economies across the globe," Boyd said.

Adaptation costs for climate change will be minor in comparison to benefits that will be gained by avoiding the economic loses of these changes, Boyd said.

She expressed hope for the study to result in cooperation among involved stakeholders, including the government, NGOs, academic, researching institutions and the private sector.

"Global economic trends may be a problem for us next year, but the climate changes will affect the economy and human race for a longer period of time. Macedonia must not stand aside from the global developments and therefore it has already initiated activities for mitigating the consequences of these changes," Vice-Premier for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski said, mentioning the ongoing cooperation with the World Bank and UN in this sphere.

Environment Minister Abdulaqim Ademi referred to Macedonia's obligations as a signatory of the UN Convention on Climate Change and a EU membership candidate, while Agriculture Minister Ljupco Dimovski elaborated the measures of his ministry in responding to the challenges of climate changes.