Jerusalem, Jul 18 (IANS): The Israeli government has approved the establishment of a national climate calculation centre to predict the regional impact of global warming.

The new research centre will be equipped with a supercomputer with substantial research and database capabilities to enable detailed climatic forecasts in the future, according to a statement jointly issued by five ministries and the Israel Water and Sewage Authority on Sunday.

The centre will be operated by the Israeli Meteorological Service under the guidance of scientists, with the aim to assist the government to take preventive and adaptive measures based on climate risk mapping, said the statement.

Climate researchers in Israel and from other countries in the region will have open access to the centre's infrastructure, it added.

The ministries added that climate change has far-reaching implications for ecosystems, economic sectors, such as agriculture, energy and transport, and even national security, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israeli Environment Ministry has warned that climate change is expected to reduce the already limited freshwater resources in the region, and drive sea level rises.