Category: United Nations

Source: World Meteorological Organization

Geneva, 31 May 2023 (WMO) – The groundbreaking international campaign to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected against hazardous weather by life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027 has been officially recognized as the top overriding priority of the World Meteorological Organization.

“This resolution agrees that the fulfilment of the WMO contribution to the successful implementation of the Early Warnings For All Initiative shall be accorded the highest priority in the WMO Strategic Plan 2024–2027, ” said the World Meteorological Congress resolution.

The 193-Member Congress, which is the WMO’s top decision-making body, said it was mindful of the “ambitious time frame, the complexity of the technological, social and economic aspects, and the urgency implied by the increasing threats and risks from natural hazards.”

It said that key WMO activities should be coordinated and consolidated under the Early Warnings for All umbrella and WMO programmes, technical commissions and regional activities aligned to achieve the goal.

National Meteorological and Hydrological Services are the official and authoritative providers of early warnings for hydrometeorological hazards.

Climate Adaptation

“Multi-hazard early warning systems are an international success story and have saved countless lives. They are widely regarded as the low-hanging fruit of climate adaptation. They are efficient and cost-effective, providing an estimated tenfold return on investment,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.

“However, only half of countries have early warning systems in place with coverage especially low in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and in Africa. The death toll is disproportionately high in these countries,” he said.

Economic losses increase, death toll falls

Extreme weather, climate and water-related events caused 11 778 reported disasters between 1970 and 2021, with just over 2 million deaths and US$ 4.3 trillion in economic losses, according to new updated figures released for the quadrennial session of Congress.

Economic losses have soared. But improved early warnings and coordinated disaster management has slashed the human casualty toll over the past half a century.

Thus, in the decade 1970-1979 there were more than 556,175 reported deaths from weather, water and climate-related hazards, and in 1980-1989 there were 666,000 deaths. This fell to 184,000 in 2010-2019.

Extremely severe cyclonic storm Mocha exemplifies the success.  It caused widespread devastation in Myanmar and Bangladesh, impacting the poorest of the poor, but the death toll was relatively limited. In the past, both Myanmar and Bangladesh suffered death tolls of tens and even hundreds of thousands of people. Thanks to early warnings and disaster management these catastrophic mortality rates are now thankfully history.

WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Center New Delhi (India Meteorological Department) issued accurate forecasts of the track and intensity of Mocha, as did the Bangladesh and Myanmar meteorological departments. The WMO community worked closely with humanitarian partners who in turn coordinated with community groups and first responders on the ground.

Four pillar approach

UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the initiative on World Meteorological Day 2022. He wants to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by the end of 2027.

The initiative is spearheaded by WMO, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, International Telecommunications Union, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, with support from  more than twenty others UN agencies as well as a very wide range of stakeholders, from financial institutions to private sectors.

The Executive Action Plan is organized along the four pillars of a multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWS):

* Pillar 1 – Disaster risk knowledge

* Pillar 2 – Observations and forecasting

* Pillar 3 – Dissemination and communication

* Pillar 4 – Preparedness and response

WMO leads the implementation of Pillar 2, and supports Pillars 1, 3 and 4.

The months ahead will see stepped up coordinated action, initially in 30 particularly at-risk countries, including Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. Additional countries are expected to be added as this vital work with partners gathers pace, scale and resourcing. 

Resolution highlights

The World Meteorological Congress resolution noted that the Early Warnings for All initiative is fully in line with the mission of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in providing meteorological, hydrological and related services to protect life and property.

It said it “would provide a new opportunity and momentum of achieving this mission through a global partnership and robust resource mobilization.”

The resolution stressed:

• The need for an inclusive, multisector approach to planning and implementation of EW4All
• National government ownership and leadership
• Coordination to avoid duplication
• Strategic partnerships, including with development and funding agencies
• Increased capacity development including mobilization of technical experts
• Engagement with the private sector and twinning arrangements

It said that existing initiatives in which WMO is one of the lead agencies such as the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), should play a key financing and implementation role in the EW4All Executive Action Plan and the Regional Action Plans that may be developed,

The resolution Invites funding agencies and development partners to contribute and align their practices with the UN objective.

The World Meteorological Organization is the United Nations System’s authoritative voice on Weather, Climate and Water

 

For further information contact:

Clare Nullis, WMO media officer, cnullis@wmo.int. Tel 41-79-709 13 97

Source: World Meteorological Organization

Acclaimed Australian scientist Dr Sue Barrell has accepted World Meteorological Organization’s top award at a ceremony which focussed on the need to put people at the centre of policy and services and to accelerate gender equality.

Dr Barrell of Australia won the IMO prize (named after the International Meteorological Organization) for her leadership role in the global weather, water and climate community, for a career of commitment to WMO, and as a role model for female scientists.

“Your dedication to the application of science, technology and data in meteorology and climate science, which you never lost throughout your career, was always very impressive and sets an example for many people,” said WMO President Gerhard Adrian. “The WMO and its community is still profiting from your vision, proficiency, relentless work and dedication,” he said.

Dr Barrell dedicated her award lecture to People.

“As we have expanded the Earth systems concept and embraced the digital era, data-related issues have escalated in importance,” said Dr Barrell, who was instrumental in overhauling and updating WMO’s data policy. “We often talk of data as being the lifeblood of WMO. However, we sometimes forget that the beating heart of WMO is its people and that without them, there would be no data, never mind systems, sharing, collaboration, services, research nor innovation,” she said.

She stressed that people must be at the heart of the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative.

“As a global WMO community, trusted to monitor, research, understand and predict the state of the Earth system and deliver much needed data, information and services, we know that people are impacted in many ways by weather, water and climate events. We know that the extent of the impact varies depending on many factors, especially their location and their circumstances, and that the people who suffer the worst impacts are, as a rule, the most vulnerable and exposed,” she said.

“Connecting the dots, across the global programs, to a national level and down to the people that need to be informed, alerted, warned, mobilised and kept safe, is an exceedingly important task, and the UN Secretary General’s challenge to WMO reinforces the need to put people not at the end of the line, but at the centre,” said Dr Barrell.

Bureau of Meteorology

Dr Barrell spent her career at the Bureau of Meteorology of Australia. She led major initiatives within WMO and its constituent bodies. Significant achievements have included: the development and implementation of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS); integrating polar and high mountain observations and strategic objectives into WMO’s systems and services as Co-Chair of the WMO Executive Council Panel on Polar and High Mountain Observations, Research and Services (EC-PHORS); and most recently leading the development of the WMO Unified Data Policy.

Dr Barrell holds board and advisory roles across science, technology, and education sectors, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and was awarded one of Australia’s highest honours for public service, named as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2022.

Australian ambassador Jeff Roche described her as the “Superstar of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Gender Action

“We need to better appreciate the role of people within our integrated Earth system. If we do it right, not only can we build better bridges across and between the full suite of communities and peoples, but we will be better informed, smarter, more inclusive and productive and deliver better and more effective outcomes all around,” said Dr Barrell.

“So, how do we do it better?

“The principles of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are also not new to anyone here. We call these principles out most often when we talk about engaging more women and other diversity groups spanning gender, disability, cultural, racial, age and regional diversity, into the workforce. It is not about fairness; it is about empowering them,  and releasing their potential to play their part in an equitable society,” she said.

She urged the WMO community to accelerate action. This includes nominating more female experts, employing and empowering more women. As an influential driver behind WMO’s updated Gender Action Plan, Dr Barrell provided a list of practical tips and advice on achieving this. She noted that she is only the fourth woman to win the IMO prize.

“The challenge starts at home, and it’s especially timely for Members to accelerate efforts to create the diverse and inclusive workforce needed now and into the future to better serve our shared mission, and to ensure that the information shared with users genuinely reflects their needs. It’s not just about being fair and equitable to everyone; it’s about making the best use of the resources and capability we share to deliver the best outcomes for all,” said Dr Barrell.

Dr Barrell quoted former Chinese leader Mao Zedong when he said that “Women hold up half the sky”.

“It’s about making sure we are indeed holding up the whole sky,” concluded Dr Barrell.