State of Climate Services Report of WMO: Key Facts

The World Meteorological Organization of United Nations recently released the “State of Climate Report”.

Key Findings of the Report

• One on three individuals are not covered by disaster warning systems
• Frequency, severity and intensity of extreme climate events and weather have increased
• More than 108 million were affected by disasters such as floods, storms, droughts and wildfires.
• According to the report, the number of people that require humanitarian assistance will increase by 50% and cost 20 billion USD per year.
• The average number of deaths in the last 50 years has decreased by 50 years.
• Only 40% of World Meteorological Organization has Multi-Hazard Early Warning System

Recommendation

The report has made six strategic recommendations

• To focus investment on early warning information system
• To invest in African Least Developed Countries
• To track finance flows
• To ensure sustainable financing for early warnings.
• The Green House Gases are at their highest level in 3 million years
• All countries should reduce their emissions by 45% from that of the 2010 levels. This is the only way to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Only 70 countries have agreed to carbon neutrality by 2050.

September: the warmest

The month of September was the warmest of 2020. The period between 2016-2020 had been the warmest on record.

World Meteorological Organization

It operates United Nations. It was established on hydrology, atmospheric science, climatology and geophysics. It comprises of 193 countries. The headquarters of WMO is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Way Forward

By Conference of Parties 26 (COP 26), countries should deliver their commitment of mobilizing 100 billion dollar a year investment by 2020. Also, the wasteful subsidies towards fossil fuels should be ended. The investment towards green and renewables should increase.

The above key factors are essential to reduce the speed of climate change and disasters induced by climate change.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020