What is the significance of World Meteorological Day?

            Our Earth is not what it used to be a few hundred years ago. Natural change along with massive human intervention, has led our planet to an environmental crisis. As a result, we face a wide range of hazards today, such as tropical cyclone storm surges, heavy rains, heat waves, droughts and many more. Therefore, in order to spread awareness, the World Meteorological Day is held on March 23.

           Climate change is no longer about mere themes of science fiction novels and films; we face it in our everyday life. The weather is turning extreme in some regions. Sea levels are rising and acidification of the oceans is taking place at a fast pace. Life seems more and more vulnerable as urbanization is spreading. Therefore, the message of the day is to be weather-ready, climate-smart and water-wise!

            World Meteorological Day is an occasion to set our priorities right and take initiatives to protect the lives, livelihoods and property of people from risks related to weather, and climate and water.

            One of the ways of readying people for imminent dangers is by installing early warning systems and implementing various disaster-risk-reduction measures.

            If nations do not start executing policy level decisions regarding climate change, our planet will soon become inhospitable to life.

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