“Vulnerable communities in sensitive areas are surprised by a succession of climate disasters, without any means of preventive warning”, declared UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, at COP27, in Egypt.
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The $3,1 billion action plan will have to be covered by the expected increase in funding for climate change adaptation.
The money goes to four areas: better knowledge of risks, implementation of surveillance and alert services, strengthening capacity to act in the field and transferring information about risks to everyone who needs it.
“The populations of Africa, South Asia, Central and South America and those living in small island states are 15 times more likely to die in a climate catastrophe,” added Guterres.
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“Early warnings save lives and provide major economic benefits. It is enough to signal the arrival of a dangerous phenomenon 24 hours in advance to reduce damage by 30%”, highlighted Petteri Taalas, secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), who prepared this action plan.
At present, less than half of least developed countries and only a third of small island developing States have an early warning system, according to a recent report by the WMO and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
To achieve the goal, it will be necessary to invest 3,1 billion dollars between 2023 and 2027, “a negligible amount considering the advantages”, commented the UN this Monday (7).
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(To AFP)
The United Nations (UN) International Conference on Climate Change – COP27 – began last Sunday (6), in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. COP is the UN's major annual event whose objective is to discuss actions aimed at combating climate change. Learn more:
