By Dipak Kurmi
As the world marks World Meteorological Day on March 23, 2025, the global community unites under the timely and urgent theme: “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together.” This theme resonates deeply in an era where climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality, reshaping ecosystems, economies, and lives with unprecedented intensity. From devastating hurricanes to prolonged droughts, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, exposing vulnerabilities in our preparedness and response systems. This year’s World Meteorological Day serves as both a clarion call and a roadmap for collective action to ensure that every individual, everywhere, has access to life-saving early warning systems.
The Growing Threat of Extreme Weather
The science is unequivocal: human-induced climate change is amplifying the frequency and magnitude of meteorological hazards. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global temperatures have already risen by approximately 1.1°C since pre-industrial levels, with projections indicating further increases unless emissions are drastically curbed. This warming fuels a cascade of consequences—rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and shifting precipitation patterns—each posing unique risks to communities worldwide.
In 2024 alone, the world witnessed a series of stark reminders of nature’s fury. Floods submerged vast swathes of South Asia, wildfires ravaged Mediterranean forests, and heatwaves pushed urban infrastructures to their limits in North America and Europe. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) estimates that weather-related disasters have increased fivefold over the past 50 years, claiming countless lives and causing economic losses in the trillions. Yet, the true tragedy lies not just in the events themselves, but in the preventable loss of life due to inadequate early warning systems.
The Early Warning Gap: A Global Inequity
Early warning systems (EWS) are among the most effective tools for mitigating the impacts of meteorological disasters. By providing timely alerts about impending hazards—be it a tsunami, cyclone, or heatwave—these systems enable communities to evacuate, prepare, and protect themselves. The United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative, launched in 2022, set an ambitious goal: to ensure that every person on Earth is covered by an early warning system by 2027. Yet, as we stand in 2025, a significant gap persists.
The WMO reports that one-third of the world’s population—predominantly in least-developed countries and small island states—lacks access to adequate early warning services. In Africa, for instance, only 40% of the population is covered by such systems, despite the continent facing some of the most severe climate impacts. This disparity is not merely a technical failing; it is a profound inequity that exacerbates existing vulnerabilities rooted in poverty, infrastructure deficits, and limited resources.
Consider the case of tropical cyclones. In wealthier nations with advanced meteorological agencies, satellite imagery, and robust communication networks, residents often receive days of advance notice, allowing for evacuations and preparations. In contrast, communities in less-resourced regions may receive warnings mere hours before a storm strikes—or, in some cases, not at all. The result is a stark disparity in outcomes: lives saved in one part of the world, lives lost in another.
Closing the Gap: A Collaborative Imperative
The theme of World Meteorological Day 2025, “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together,” underscores a fundamental truth: no single nation, organization, or sector can address this challenge alone. Bridging the gap requires a concerted, collaborative effort that spans governments, scientists, private enterprises, and civil society.
At the heart of this effort lies the need for investment in meteorological infrastructure. Modernizing weather observation networks—such as installing more weather stations, radar systems, and ocean buoys—is critical, particularly in underserved regions. The WMO has called for an annual investment of $1.5 billion to achieve global coverage, a sum that pales in comparison to the economic losses averted by effective early warnings. For every dollar spent on EWS, studies suggest a return of up to $10 in avoided damages and preserved livelihoods.
Technology, too, plays a pivotal role. Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionizing weather forecasting, enabling more precise predictions over longer timeframes. Mobile technology offers another breakthrough, allowing warnings to reach remote populations via SMS or app-based alerts. In 2024, pilot projects in Southeast Asia demonstrated the power of community-driven alert systems, where local leaders used WhatsApp to disseminate real-time updates, saving hundreds of lives during monsoon floods.
Yet, technology alone is insufficient without human capacity. Training meteorologists, emergency managers, and community responders is essential to ensure that warnings are not only issued but acted upon. Public education campaigns can further empower individuals to understand and respond to alerts, fostering a culture of preparedness.
A Shared Responsibility
International cooperation is the linchpin of this endeavor. Wealthier nations, which bear historical responsibility for much of the carbon emissions driving climate change, must lead by example. This means not only funding global initiatives but also sharing expertise and technology with developing countries. The Green Climate Fund and other mechanisms offer pathways for such support, yet pledges must translate into action.
Private sector involvement is equally vital. Telecom companies can expand network coverage to remote areas, while tech giants can develop affordable tools for data analysis and dissemination. Meanwhile, local communities—often the first responders in a crisis—must be empowered as active partners, their knowledge and needs integrated into system design.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for 2027 and Beyond
As we celebrate World Meteorological Day 2025, the clock is ticking toward the 2027 deadline for universal early warning coverage. Progress is underway: the WMO’s Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems framework has gained traction, and regional collaborations, such as the African Union’s climate resilience programs, are bearing fruit. Yet, the scale of the challenge demands urgency and unwavering commitment.
Closing the early warning gap is not just a technical goal; it is a moral imperative. It is about ensuring that a farmer in Malawi, a fisherman in Vanuatu, and a city dweller in Miami all have the same chance to survive and thrive in a warming world. It is about recognizing that our fates are intertwined—that a disaster averted in one corner of the globe benefits us all.
On this World Meteorological Day, let us recommit to closing the gap together. Let us invest, innovate, and collaborate with a shared sense of purpose. The storms will come, the rains will fall, and the winds will howl—but with early warnings for all, we can face the future with resilience and hope.
(the writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
