UNESCO ROSA joins Zimbabwe’s World Met Day commemorations
The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa attended the World Meteorological Day Commemorations held in Zimbabwe on 23 March 2022 under the theme, “Early warning and early action: Hydro meteorological and climate information for disaster risk reduction.”
Speaking at the commemorations, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndlovu said his government was planning to upgrade the country’s meteorological services infrastructure and equipment.
He said the recapitalization drive had already started with the Ministry’s procurement of vehicles, automatic weather stations and weather radars for the Meteorological Services Department (MSD). The new weather stations and radars will provide critical information needed for disaster preparedness. The Minister also informed the participants that the Ministry was going to capacitate the Seismology section through the provision of skilled labor and appropriate equipment for the detection of tremors and earthquakes.
The World Meteorological Day is celebrated annually to mark the coming into existence of the World Meteorological Organization on March 23, 1950. It brings into focus the work meteorologists do in studying Earth’s atmosphere. This day highlights the importance of individual actions in preserving Earth’s atmosphere, comprising various invisible gasses that form a “security blanket” over us against harmful rays.
This year’s theme, Early Warning and Early Action, spotlighted the vital importance of Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction. Weather, climate and water extremes are becoming more frequent and intense in many parts of the world because of climate change. More of us are exposed than ever before to multiple related hazards, which are themselves evolving because of population growth, urbanization and environmental degradation. Being prepared and able to act at the right time, in the right place, can save many lives and protect the livelihoods of communities everywhere, both now and in the future.
The commemorations in Zimbabwe coincided with the validation of the country’s National Framework for Weather and Climate Services. The Framework aims at co-production of tailor-made area and sector specific weather and climate services. Currently, the priority sectors for Zimbabwe under the Framework are Agriculture and Food Security, Energy, Water, Aviation, Tourism and Health.