India must adopt more robust multi-hazard early warning system: WMO chief

India has to enhance its meteorological infrastructure and adopt a more robust multi-hazard early warning system to avoid loss of lives and minimize the impact of climate change, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo told this newspaper on Monday.

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA EXPRESS IN BAKU

The WMO State of the Climate 2024 was released during the United National Climate Conference (COP29), which began in Baku, Azerbaijan, earlier in the day. The report issued a red alert as 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record. From January to September this year, the average global temperature was 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels. However, from a long-term perspective, the average warming is below 1.5°C.

Saulo said WMO works very closely with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), whose Director General of Meteorology Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is one of the three vice-presidents of WMO. "India is very active and making good investments to enhance meteorological services. But, India being such a large country, there is a lot of scope for improvement. Especially, in bringing the Met services into the value chain. Active engagement between the Met department and other ministries like agriculture, health and disaster management is vital," she told this newspaper on the sidelines of the WMO presser.