WMO Urges Increased Investment in Early Warning Systems on World Meteorological Day

ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of World Meteorological Day, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted the severe impact of weather, climate, and water-related hazards, which caused more than 2 million deaths and an estimated US$ 4.3 trillion in economic losses globally between 1970 and 2021. The WMO called for urgent investments in early warning systems and national meteorological services, particularly in vulnerable countries.

This year’s theme, “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together,” emphasizes the critical life-saving potential of timely forecasts and the dangerous disparity in access to these warnings worldwide. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that early warning systems are now a necessity, not a luxury, underscoring the ten-fold return on investments in such systems. He pointed out that nearly half of the world’s countries still lack access to these essential systems, causing preventable loss of lives and livelihoods.

The WMO’s latest climate assessment revealed that 2024 surpassed previous temperature records, with rising greenhouse gas emissions, ocean warming, and the El Niño phenomenon driving the record heat. Scientists also observed accelerating sea level rise, glacier retreat, and more frequent extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and wildfires.

Guterres called for enhanced political support, technology development, and collaboration between governments, businesses, and communities to combat the climate crisis. He also emphasized the need for scaling-up finance, particularly by increasing the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks.

While the economic costs of weather-related hazards continue to rise, the number of deaths has decreased due to the effectiveness of early warning systems. Over the past 75 years, billions of dollars in economic value have been added, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved due to weather forecasts and early warnings.

Despite progress, significant gaps remain, especially in low-income and climate-vulnerable nations. Although 108 countries now report having some form of early warning systems—up from 52 in 2015—many countries still lack accurate and timely alerts. The WMO and UN’s “Early Warnings for All” initiative aims to ensure every person on Earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027, with continued efforts needed to achieve this goal.

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The WMO also stressed the importance of supporting National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in developing countries to strengthen forecasting infrastructure and data-sharing systems. It highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and advanced modelling technologies, which should be shared equitably to benefit all nations.

World Meteorological Day, observed annually on March 23, commemorates the establishment of the WMO as a UN specialized agency in 1950. This year marks its 75th anniversary.