World Meteorological Day

Every year, 23 March is celebrated as the World Meteorological Day. 

Background 

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) commemorates the World Meteorological Day since 1961. It signifies the coming into force of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950.

It showcases the essential contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing of society and is celebrated with activities around the world. The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate or water-related issues.

Climate challenges

Each decade since the 1980s has been warmer than the previous one. 2023 was the hottest year on record, with the global mean temperature at about 1.45°C above the 1850-1900 average. This was largely due to a combination of human-induced climate change and El Niño, a naturally occurring phenomenon. 

Rising temperatures are being accompanied by more extreme events – heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. The weather is being turbo-charged by the excess energy in the atmosphere trapped by record levels of greenhouse gases.

Ocean heat is record high. The warming has accelerated and is expected to continue for hundreds and even thousands of years. Ocean acidification is also increasing, impacting marine ecosystems.  

Sea level rise has speeded up dramatically, posing a growing threat to low-lying states and coastal populations. 

Glaciers and ice sheets are retreating – and this will jeopardize future water security, essential ecosystems and worsen sea level rise. Sea ice continues to shrink, and permafrost is melting which further heightens the potential for greenhouse gas emissions.

Theme for 2024 : At the frontline of climate action

Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now.

Sustainable Development Goal 13 commits us to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Progress in this goal underpins progress in all the other Sustainable Development Goals. 

Weather and climate predictions help boost food production and move closer to zero hunger. Integrating epidemiology and climate information helps understand and manage diseases sensitive to climate. And early-warning systems help to reduce poverty by giving people the chance to prepare and limit the impact of extreme weather. 

Science is central to solutions and can supercharge progress on the SDGs across the board. 

Source : UN website - World Meteorological Day