Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: Target G

Why in News?

Recently, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report titled Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems - Target G, which warns that half of the countries globally are not protected by Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS).

• The report has been released to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13^th October).
• The analysis was made with data from the targets outlined in The Sendai Framework (2015-2030). The framework is a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction and prevention.
  • Of the seven targets in the framework, Target G aims to “substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030.

What are the Early Warning Systems?

• Early warning systems are a proven means to reduce harm to people and damage to assets ahead of impending hazards, including storms, tsunamis, droughts, and heatwaves, to name a few.
• Multi-hazard early warning systems address several hazards that may occur alone, simultaneously, or cascadingly.
• Many systems only cover one type of hazard - like floods or cyclones.

What are the Findings?

• Failure at Investment:
  • The world is failing to invest in protecting the lives and livelihoods of those on the front line.
  • Those who have done the least to cause the climate crisis are paying the highest price.
  • LDCs (Least developed countries), SIDS (Small Island Developing States), and countries in Africa, require the most investment to increase early warning coverage and adequately protect themselves against disasters.
  • Pakistan is dealing with its worst recorded climate disaster, with nearly 1,700 lives lost. Despite this carnage, the death toll would have been much higher if not for early warning systems.
• Significant Gaps:
  • Only half of the countries globally have MHEWS.
  • The Number of recorded disasters has increased five-fold, driven in part by human-induced climate change and more extreme weather. This trend is expected to continue.
  • Less than half of the Least Developed Countries and only one-third of Small Island Developing States have a multi-hazard early warning system.
• Humanity is in the Danger Zone:
  • As ever-rising greenhouse gas emissions are supercharging extreme weather events across the planet, climate disasters are hurting countries and economies like never before.
  • Increasing calamities are costing lives and hundreds of billions of dollars in loss and damage.
  • Three times more people are displaced by climate disasters than war and half of humanity is already in the danger zone.

What are the Recommendations?

• Called on all countries to invest in early warning systems.
• As climate change causes more frequent, extreme, and unpredictable weather events, investment in early warning systems that target multiple hazards is more urgent than ever.
• This is because of the need to warn not only against the initial impact of disasters, but also second and third-order effects. Examples include soil liquefaction following an earthquake or a landslide, and disease outbreaks following heavy rainfall.

Source: DTE