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Illustration : Green earth for the future (Photo : WMO) - 

VOInews, Geneva : The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Executive Council has approved a detailed road map to speed up and scale up efforts to ensure that life-saving early warnings cover everyone on the planet.

The seventy-eighth session of the Executive Council (EC78) took place in Geneva from 10 to 14 June 2024. In addition to an Early Warnings for All (EW4All) road map, it adopted an implementation plan for a Global Greenhouse Gas Watch and scaled up action on the cryosphere (ice and snow) in the face of dramatic changes.

The council agreed to a raft of other resolutions to strengthen Earth system observations, predictions and information systems. It adopted resolutions on climate monitoring and climate services, and research and innovation.

It also set the scene for more intense collaboration with the United Nations system, and to support humanitarian action through initiatives such as the WMO Coordination Mechanism (WCM) supported by the  Weather 4 UN project.

One of the highlights of this Executive Council was the adoption of a Road Map for the Early Warnings for All initiative which outlines the vision and actions to enhance the delivery and use of multi-hazard early warning systems.

It covers the period from 2024-2027 with detailed dates, deliverables and defined responsibilities. This is in line with the target date set by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres.

“Strong early warning systems require stronger political and policy support from the international community and governments, in addition to significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and training. We must all champion the EW4All Initiative globally, advocating for increased investment and political will”, said Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the WMO.

“People’s lives and people’s safety are our top priority. Every single forecast that is issued has a human dimension. Every life we save has a human face, a family, a future”, said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

“It makes economic sense. Early warning systems provide a ninefold return on investment. They are the low-hanging fruit of climate adaptation. If we don’t invest, the cost of inaction will be much higher than the cost of action,” she said.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (17/06/24), early warning systems have helped decrease the number of deaths and have reduced losses and damages resulting from hazardous weather, water, or climate events. They provide a nearly tenfold return on investment.

But major gaps still exist, especially in small island developing states and least developed countries. Some 70% of all deaths from climate-related disasters have occurred in the 46 poorest countries over the past 50 years.

The road map seeks to leverage the entire WMO network and enhance the capabilities of its NMHSs to protect lives and livelihoods. WMO Members have already endorsed the structure underpinning the priority activities, with defined roles and responsibilities//VOI