A catastrophic 2007 drought that caused approximately US$1 billion in losses could foreshadow "the future climate to come" in Moldova. This is just one of the findings of the 2009/2010 National Human Development Report launched in Chisinau on December 7, Info-Prim Neo reports. The 2009/2010 National Human Development Report, "Climate Change in Moldova: Socio-Economic Impact and Policy Options for Adaptation", provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the strong impact of climate variability and climate change, and extreme weather events on sectors vital to human development in Moldova: water resources, ecosystems, agriculture and energy, transport infrastructure and health. During the launch ceremony, Minister of the Environment Gheorghe Salaru said Moldova cannot avoid the most serious millennium challenge – climate change. “The solution is in the compromise between the economic development of the society and the consequences of our interventions in different areas,” the minister said. Kaarina Immonen, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, said the report in Chisinau was launched on the same day when the United Nations Climate Change Conference started in Copenhagen. A Moldovan delegation headed by the Minister of the Environment will be participating in the conference. “This is not a coincidence. The problems faced by Moldova are global and, paradoxically, the developing countries are the worst hit in this process” Kaarina Immonen said. This study applies the human development perspective throughout its analysis, by trying to shed more light on the way climate change will affect Moldova’s development trends and agenda and, ultimately, the hopes and opportunities of the Moldovan people. In short, Moldova will face warmer and wetter winters but hotter and drier summers and autumns. Moldova can expect winters like in England and summers like in Greece or Spain. As the Report makes clear, the 2007 summer drought can be seen as a warning sign to policy and decision-makers—one that makes clear that climate change and its impacts need to be considered today, not tomorrow. The 2009/2010 National Human Development Report marks the 15th anniversary since the publication of the first NHDR in Moldova in 1995.