The 19th World Meteorological Congress was held this week, resulting in the Early Warnings for All Initiative and the changes in the cryosphere being agreed as high priorities of the World Meteorological Organization (“WMO”). Below is a brief summary of these priority areas.
Cryosphere changes
According to the press release issued by the WMO, the rapid loss of sea ice and melting of glaciers and permafrost in Polar and high mountain regions requires urgent enhanced coordination and data-sharing, due to increasing impacts on sea-level rise, ecosystems and water hazards. The irreversible changes to the cryosphere will include impacts on access to water resources and adaptation measures, and increase the risk of flooding, as experienced in Pakistan in 2022. The WMO highlights that glaciers and ice sheet melt in Greenland and Antarctica contribute to approximately 50% of sea-level increase, which is already impacting small island developing states and coastal areas that are densely populated. Artic permafrost also stores greenhouse gases, twice the amount of carbon in the current atmosphere, and similar to the risk posed by loss of mangroves, would result in the increased release of carbon dioxide.
Early Warnings for All Initiative
This has become the top priority of the WMO Strategic Plan for 2024-2027, and involves the WMO, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Telecommunications Union, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. There are 4 pillars upon which this multi-hazard early warning system is organised, to coordinate action in 30 countries with additional countries expected to be included. The pillars are: disaster risk knowledge; observations and forecasting; dissemination and communication; and preparedness and response. The WMO highlights that improved early warnings and disaster management have significantly lowered mortality rates between 2010-2019, when compared to the periods between 1970-1979 and 1980-1989, however the economic losses have increased. A previous note on this initiative can be accessed here, with information on the countries that are in scope.
The press releases can be accessed on the WMO website here.
Sustainable Capabilities 