Govind Tekale
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Day is celebrated on March 23 to commemorate the establishment of the WMO in 1950. This year’s slogan is “At the Frontline of Climate Action.” Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous is the current president of the WMO. Celeste Saulo of Argentina is the first female Secretary-General of the WMO. The headquarters of the WMO is in Geneva, Switzerland.
Over the last 74 years, the WMO has served the world in predicting and following climate change globally. Currently, the WMO has 193 members, including 187 member states and 6 territories, each maintaining their own meteorological services. When discussing climate change, the WMO is the foremost body that comes to mind. The year 2023 was one of the warmest years in history. The WMO provides guidelines and coordinates actions to face climate change.
Tracing its origins back to 1873, the WMO finds its roots in the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was a non-governmental organization that transformed into a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1951, thereby becoming the WMO. This marked a new era of international cooperation in the fields of meteorology, hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
Incidentally, the Chipko movement in India celebrates its golden jubilee on March 26. Thus, ecologists have called for a “cling to the trees” campaign from March 23 to 29, a week of remembrance of the environmental struggle over the last 50 years. We are at a crossroads of increasing climate change and ecological degradation.
On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called all 193 members of the WMO to realize the theme of “At the Frontline of Climate Action.” India has been a founding member of this global body. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has served the interests of India as well as the world in their fight to face climate change.
The main concern of the WMO today is how to reduce global warming due to climate change. According to Sunita Narain, the eminent ecologist, the WMO deserves our cooperation as we strive to balance development and environmental protection in the face of climate change. Both WMO President Dr. Abdulla and WMO Secretary-General Celeste have highlighted the importance of the WMO’s role in facing the climate change crisis.
