LocationsEnhancing Hydrometeorological Safety Amidst Climate Change
July 4, 2024
2023 was one of the warmest years recorded in the history of meteorological observations. From Europe to Asia, from Africa to Australia, hundreds of temperature records were set in the past year alone.
As climate change progresses, the frequency and intensity of adverse weather events such as droughts, wildfires, and heavy rainfall are on the rise. These events pose significant threats to human life and health, and economic losses from natural disasters now average $300 billion annually.
“The cost of climate action may seem high, but the cost of inaction is even higher.”Armen Martirosyan, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Belarus
A scientific conference on Ensuring Hydrometeorological Security of Belarus in the Context of Climate Change was held in Minsk on 1 July. During the event, the participants highlighted the crucial role of the national meteorological service in tracking climate trends and managing climate risks.
“Monitoring, forecasting, and early warning of extreme weather events is the most effective ways to mitigate the negative effects of climate change,” emphasized Armen Martirosyan, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Belarus, in his welcoming address.
Thus, according to the UN Environment Programme, an investment of $800 million in the improvement of early warning systems in developing countries could save between $3 and $16 billion per year.
Photo credit: UNDP in Belarus
Supporting Belarus in advancing the climate agenda and enhancing the national early warning system in the face of extreme weather events is one of UNDP's priorities in the country.
Stanislav Kim, Lead of Regional Cluster on Climate Change and Disaster Resilience, emphasized UNDP's key proposals for Europe and Central Asia such as climate risk management, urban resilience, risk reduction financing, and sustainable recovery.
Analyzing the region's experience, Khusrav Sharifov, expert of the Regional Cluster on Climate Change and Disaster Resilience, stressed the need to integrate the data on climate risks into decision-making across all sectors and to incorporate it into national and sectoral development strategies.
A significant step in this direction is the implementation of Early Warning Systems for All (EW4All) initiative in Europe and Central Asia. This initiative unites the efforts of the entire UN system, governments, civil society, and development partners to accelerate the creation of comprehensive early warning systems tailored to various hazards.
For these global initiatives to succeed, it is essential build both traditional and new capacities of hydrometeorological services. This includes, informing climate finance and insurance decisions, involving the public in climate initiatives, and adopting new technologies.
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