“Early warning systems work,” he told the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva. “They give farmers the power to protect their crops and livestock. They allow families to evacuate safely. And they protect entire communities from devastation.”
“We know that disaster-related mortality is at least six times lower in countries that have good early warning systems,” the UN chief said.
He added that just 24 hours’ notice before a dangerous event can reduce damage by up to 30 percent.
In 2022, Guterres launched the Early warnings for everyone Initiative that aims to ensure that “everyone, everywhere” is protected by an alert system by 2027.
Progress has been made and more than half of all countries are now reportedly equipped with multi-hazard early warning systems. The world’s least developed countries have almost doubled their capacity since official reporting began, “but we still have a long way to go,” the UN chief acknowledged.
At a special meeting of the World Meteorological Congress earlier this week, countries endorsed an urgent Call to Action aimed at closing remaining gaps in monitoring.
Extreme weather gets worse
WMO chief Celeste Saulo, who has been urging expanded adoption of early warning systems, warned that the impacts of climate change are accelerating as “more extreme weather is destroying lives and livelihoods and eroding hard-won development gains.”
He spoke of a “profound opportunity to harness climate intelligence and technological advances to build a more resilient future for all.”
Weather, water and climate-related hazards have killed more than two million people in the past five decades, with developing countries accounting for 90 percent of the deaths, according to the WMO.
Guterres emphasized the fact that for countries to “act at the required speed and scale” increasing financing will be key.
Increased funding
“To reach all communities requires increased funding,” he said. “But too many developing countries are stymied by limited fiscal space, slowing growth, overwhelming debt burdens and rising systemic risks..”
He also urged action at the root of the climate crisis, to try to limit the rapid advance of global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, although we know that this goal will be exceeded over the next few years, he said.
“One thing is already clear: We will not be able to contain global warming below 1.5 degrees in the coming years.” Mr. Guterres warned. “Excess is now inevitable. “Which will mean that we are going to have a period, larger or smaller, with greater or lesser intensity, above 1.5 degrees in the coming years.”
Even so, “we are not condemned to live with 1.5 degrees” if a global paradigm shift occurs and countries take appropriate measures.
At the upcoming U.N. climate change conference, where states are expected to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, “we have to be much more ambitious,” he said. COP30 will take place from November 10 to 21 in Bethlehem, Brazil.
“In Brazil, leaders must agree on a credible plan to mobilize $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for developing countries to finance climate action,” Guterres insisted.
Developed countries should meet their commitment to double funding for climate adaptation to $40 billion this year and the Loss and Damage Fund should attract “substantial contributions,” he said.
Guterres highlighted the need to “fight disinformation, online harassment and greenwashing,” referring to the UN-backed Global Initiative on Climate Change Information Integrity.
“Scientists and researchers should never be afraid to tell the truth,” he said.
He expressed solidarity with the scientific community and said the “ideas, experience and influence” of the WMO, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this week, are needed now “more than ever.”