WMO: Anticipated increase in natural hazards requires strong commitment to early warnings and risk management

Press Release: WMO-848

Geneva / Manama –

During the past 30 years, nearly 7 500 natural disasters worldwide have taken the lives of more than 2 million people. Of these disasters, 72.5 per cent were caused by weather, climate or water-related hazards. As such, WMO is a major contributor to the GAR/DRR, which is a collaborative effort of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). The Report reviews and analyses disaster frequency, geography and impact, and recommends priorities for reducing risks.

WMO and its Members are attaching high priority to the integration of early warning systems into emergency management and response. The objective is to, by 2019, reduce by 50 per cent the associated 10-year average fatality of the period 1994-2003 for weather-, climate- and water-related natural disasters. According to a survey conducted by WMO, 60 per cent of its Member countries are not adequately equipped with the technical capacity to provide meteorological and hydrological information needed for improved management of risks and therefore warn the populations against disasters, particularly in the most vulnerable countries.

“As many challenges remain ahead, WMO is working actively with partners to establish and to strengthen bilateral and multilateral arrangements for modernization of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs); further strengthening of operational early warning systems through a multi-hazard approach; capacity development in hazard monitoring, forecasting and analysis; cooperation strengthening among all stakeholders; and hydro-meteorological hazard public awareness enhancement“, Mr Jarraud said. “A number of national and regional projects have been initiated in Africa, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean and in Europe; however, sustaining these capacities will require strong national and regional commitments. “

NMHSs are critical components of disaster risk reduction. They should be given adequate support, including basic observations and forecasting infrastructure, and access to the latest technologies, in order to develop with partners effective early warnings and to further improve the accuracy of climate services.

The benefits of investing in such disaster risk reduction services have been clearly demonstrated. Although the number of disasters and related economic losses increased steadily over the last five decades, the loss of life associated with hydro-meteorological hazards has decreased by a factor of 10, as a consequence of appropriate early warning systems implementation, combined with effective emergency preparedness and response planning. Moreover, every dollar invested in preventive disaster risk reduction services produces an economic return many times greater, often more than 10 times.

The GAR/DRR’s central message is that disaster risk and poverty are strongly linked and are in turn intertwined with the unquestionable reality of global climate change. The report shows that the risk of both mortality and economic loss in disasters is highly concentrated in a very small portion of Earth’s surface. For example, 75 per cent of global flood mortality risk is concentrated in three populous countries: India, China and Bangladesh. WMO, together with partners, has initiated major projects in early warning systems with multi-hazard approaches towards strengthening capacities of managing such flood risks.

The Report provides solutions to mitigating disaster risk and gives examples of good practices in which disaster risk interventions have improved people’s lives. It proposes a 20-point action plan to reduce risk, focusing on stepping up efforts to respond to climate change; strengthening the economic resilience of small and vulnerable economies; supporting community initiatives; enhancing national and local governance; encouraging the adoption of high-level development policy frameworks (in which disaster management strategies and early warning systems are integrated); and, above all, investing in sustainable disaster risk reduction measures.

The connection between climate change and disaster risk reduction will also be featured prominently at World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), which is being organized by WMO and international partners from 31 August to 4 September 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.

WMO is the United Nations’ authoritative voice on weather, climate and water.

For more information:

WMO contacts:
In Bahrain:
Ms. Maryam Golnaraghi, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, e-mail (mgolnaraghi@wmo.int), cell phone: +41 793 008 581

Mr Jaser K. Rabadi, WMO Representative for West Asia, Tel: +973 173 19 401, cell phone: +973 390 64 305

In Geneva
Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, Tel: +41 (0) 22 730 8314, E-mail: cvanmaele@wmo.int

Ms Gaëlle Sévenier, Press Officer, Communications and Public Affairs, Tel. +41 (0) 22 730 8417, E-mail: gsevenier@wmo.int;
Web site: www.wmo.int

UNISDR contacts:
Ms Brigitte Leoni , Acting Head of Communications, Tel: +4122 917 88 97 or +41 79444 5262, E-mail: leonib@un.org
Web site: https://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/