early warning system Archives

Apr122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

From Panic to Preparedness: How Early Warnings Are Changing Lives in Flood-Prone Philippines

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

Sitting quietly on her sofa eyes on the TV and phone in hand, Ma. Lourdes D. Ramas stays calm as a yellow warning alert flashes on her screen. Just a few meters from a river basin in Surigao del Sur, her home is vulnerable but unlike before, fear no longer grips her at every thunderclap. She doesn't need to step outside to check the water level. Technology and a community-first approach to disaster preparedness is making all the difference. “Don’t worry, Ma,” she tells her elderly mother. “It’s only a yellow warning. Nothing serious. You can sleep now.” In a country that faces about 20 typhoons a year, scenes like these are familiar. The Philippines tops the 2023 World Risk Index as the most climate-vulnerable nation among 193 countries. Typhoons bring floods, landslides, and storm s...

Apr32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tanzania Launches Landmark Early Warning System to Tackle Climate Threats

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Tanzania has taken a major step in disaster preparedness by launching the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative, aiming to safeguard lives from worsening climate hazards like floods, droughts, and extreme storms. Strengthening Climate Resilience The initiative aligns Tanzania with East African nations such as Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda, pushing for universal early warning coverage by 2027, in line with a UN call to action. A high-level consultative workshop held in Dodoma from March 19–20, 2025, brought together government officials, international agencies, scientists, and community leaders. Organized by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) with support from Denmark, the event focused on integrating global best practices into national strategies. Urgen...

Mar312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate-Driven Disasters Surge in US Urgent Action Needed

Breaking News, Climate Actions

A new analysis of 30 years of FEMA disaster data reveals a sharp rise in climate-related disasters across the United States. The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), in collaboration with CNN, found that 2024 saw 90 major disaster declarations, nearly double the 30-year average of 55 per year. This means the country faced a new major disaster every four days on average. By cross-referencing FEMA data with census records, researchers estimate that 137 million people 41% of the U.S. population were affected by a major disaster or emergency declaration in 2024. These disasters, including tornadoes, wildfires, tropical storms, and floods, highlight the increasing toll of climate change on American communities. "Millions of Americans are being affected by climat...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Now AI Tool Could Predict Volcanic Eruption Early Warning Signals

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations, Learning & Developments, Tech

A groundbreaking AI driven tool developed by a University of Canterbury led research team significantly enhance prediction of volcanic eruptions worldwide. The tool based on machine learning models potential to save lives and protect infrastructure by improving early warning systems. Dr. Alberto Ardid and Associate Professor David Dempsey from UC’s Civil and Natural Resources Engineering department analyzed seismic data from 41 past eruptions across 24 volcanoes, including three in New Zealand. Their findings suggest that eruption warning signals follow repeatable patterns, which can be applied to under-monitored volcanoes. Dr. Ardid explained “This could be a breakthrough in eruption forecasting, allowing us to transfer knowledge from well-studied volcanoes to improve risk mitigatio...

Feb202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Action Ramps Up as PAGASA Leads Early Warning Innovations

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, global and state organizations are accelerating efforts to protect vulnerable regions. For the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), early warning systems are seen as vital tools to save lives and reduce economic losses. Cyrille Honore, Director of the Disaster Risk Reduction Office at WMO, highlighted the UN’s Early Warning for All initiative, aiming to ensure global access to early warning systems by 2027. These systems monitor hazards, assess risks, and communicate warnings to help communities take action before disasters strike. Honore spoke during the 57th session of the Typhoon Committee, held in Manila from February 17 to 20. The intergovernmental body, established in 1968, promotes disaster...

Feb202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Goma Dual Crisis M23 Rebel Group Takeover & Mount Nyiragongo Threat

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

In January 2025, the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fell under the control of the M23 rebel group. This marked a deadly escalation in a decades-long conflict that has led to mass displacement and numerous deaths. Goma, home to two million people, faces a compounded risk. Just 12 miles from the city lies Mount Nyiragongo, one of the world’s most dangerous active volcanoes. The volcano’s lava flows can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour faster than a person can run. During its 2021 eruption, thousands were displaced and at least 250 people lost their lives. An earlier eruption in 2002 left 13% of Goma buried in lava. The DRC exemplifies the dangers faced by fragile, conflict-affected regions when natural disasters strike. Climate change further intensifies v...

Feb172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global Alarm Unequal EWS Funding Threatens UN’s 2027 Climate Safety Goal

Breaking News, Climate Actions

With the UN’s 2027 goal of universal early warning system (EWS) coverage fast approaching, funding distribution remains uneven, with over half of global investments concentrated in just five countries China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, launched in 2022, aims to protect vulnerable populations from increasingly severe climate-related disasters. While EWS projects saw record funding in 2023, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) still face significant resource gaps. To track and optimize funding, the UN and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched the Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments in December 2024. This platform monitors funding from key financial instit...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNDRR, WMO Launch Global Early Warning System Investment Observatory

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have launched the Global Observatory for Early Warning System (EWS) Investments to improve tracking and coordination of funding for disaster preparedness. This initiative aims to support the UN’s goal of global EWS coverage by 2027, announced by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022. Early warning systems are critical in saving lives during extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to the climate crisis. However, fragmented financing has limited their global reach. Launched in December 2024, the Observatory provides an overview of funding flows from nine key financing institutions. It identifies gaps, avoids duplication, and ensures investme...

Jan252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Drones Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting, Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Tech

As the climate crisis intensifies, accurate weather forecasting has never been more critical. From predicting devastating hurricanes to preparing for record-breaking heatwaves, numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems have become vital in safeguarding lives and livelihoods. However, these systems rely heavily on costly and complex data collection methods, including weather balloons and ground-based stations. A groundbreaking study from Japan has now demonstrated that drones equipped with meteorological sensors could provide a practical and affordable alternative, revolutionizing the way atmospheric data is gathered. Led by Professor Jun Inoue from the National Institute of Polar Research, the research team conducted a two-month field campaign in Tsukuba City to test the feasibility of...

Jan242025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNESCO, WMO Unveil 2025 as Year for Glacier Preservation

Breaking News, Climate Actions

UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), emphasizing the urgency of addressing glacier retreat and its global implications. The initiative was officially launched on January 21, aiming to protect Earth's "water towers" essential sources of freshwater for over 2 billion people. The declaration follows a UN General Assembly resolution from December 2022, marking March 21 as World Day for Glaciers annually. With glaciers covering 700,000 square kilometers and storing 70% of the world’s freshwater, their rapid melting poses severe threats such as water scarcity, rising sea levels, and ecosystem collapse. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the severity of the crisis "In 2023, glaciers su...