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Meteorologists Urged to Help Mitigate Effects of Climate Change

16 June 2005

Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha with Commonwealth Meteorologists
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha with Commonwealth meteorologists in Exeter, UK. © Crown copyright 2005
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha has called on Commonwealth meteorologists to develop initiatives and strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. She was speaking at the Conference of Commonwealth Meteorologists in Exeter, UK, on 14 June 2005, with the theme 'Working Together to Improve Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness'.

The Deputy Secretary-General said: "Some parts of the Commonwealth are routinely exposed to natural disasters: hurricanes in the Caribbean, cyclones in the Pacific, drought in Africa, and devastating floods in India, Bangladesh and recently Guyana. There is an additional factor that is compounding these matters -- the challenge of climate change.

"We recall the earthquake and resulting tsunami that caused humanitarian tragedy of epic proportions in a number of Commonwealth countries in December 2004. In the Caribbean, the hurricane season seems to be arriving early with attendant planning problems. In Africa, which faces severe impacts from global warming, drought is bringing with it greater water stress, soil erosion and food insecurity. On a global scale, increased energy in the weather system is resulting in more extreme and more frequent, adverse climate changes."

Mrs Mugasha stated that meteorologists play a critical role in communicating effectively about the impacts of climate change and the risk factors associated with it.

"We must do all we can to ensure that all Commonwealth states are brought into any emerging systems on a beneficial and equitable basis. We at the Commonwealth Secretariat have taken steps to alleviate the hardships brought about by natural disasters. Following the devastating hurricane of September 2004, the Commonwealth embarked upon a number of technical assistance programmes to strengthen the capacity of Grenada's Agency for Reconstruction and Development to co-ordinate and manage Grenada's sustainable rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery.

"In the Indian Ocean, we contributed to the relief efforts after the December 2004 tsunami by sending doctors and emergency relief experts to co-ordinate relief and rehabilitation work in some of the affected member states. We will continue to do all we can to assist the affected Commonwealth countries to respond to this unprecedented tragedy as they work to recover and rebuild."

The Deputy Secretary-General said the national meteorological and hydrological services in the Commonwealth should forge closer links to benefit the public. Mrs Mugasha noted that the availability of data and early warning systems are useful in sustainable development planning and long-term predictions on drought, sea-level rise and other climate changes.

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 239, 15 June 2005

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