Increased demand for early warning systems due to climate change

Arabia Weather - The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) published a report in which it stated that an early warning system is only effective when it can respond to needs and act upon them. By identifying upcoming risks as soon as possible, communities can prepare in advance and try to reduce disturbances and damage. .

Hazards include weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, storms, floods, and tsunamis, but can also include heat waves, forest fires, droughts, sand and dust storms, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and other non-weather-related disasters, such as disease outbreaks and technological accidents.

The early warning system consists of four elements:

• knowledge of disaster risks,
• Detection, monitoring, analysis and prediction.
• Disseminate warnings and communicate,
• Ability to prepare and respond.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, all four elements are equally important in reducing the effects of extreme events. Each element, whether applied alone or in combination with others, must include the participation of people and organizations at risk.

There is an urgent need for early warning systems because climate change causes more frequent, extreme and unpredictable weather risks, and early warnings, issued within 24 hours of the danger occurring, can reduce the damage of this event by 30%.

The number of natural disasters has doubled over the past 50 years

World Meteorological Organization experts said that the number of disasters has increased fivefold over the past fifty years, and only half of the world's countries have the ability to access early warning systems for multiple hazards.

In particular, risk-related loss of life is increasing in small island developing States and least developed countries – countries most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.

World Meteorological Organization response

To support the adoption of early warning systems around the world, and in line with the UN goal of protecting everyone on Earth within five years, the World Meteorological Organization coordinates and supports several efforts:

The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative has invested more than US$100 million in the world's most vulnerable small island developing States, least developed countries (LDCs), by increasing people's access to effective, risk-informed, gender-responsive and gender-centred early warning systems. the people.

CREWS focuses its support in a targeted manner by responding to the early warning needs of least developed countries and small island developing States through multi-year projects at the country and regional level, technical assistance and advisory services provided by its implementing partners, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Bank and the United Nations Office for Relief and Prevention. from disaster risks.