15-April-2024-Special-Article

INDIA HELPING FIVE NATIONS DEVELOP EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS 

India is proactively aiding neighbouring countries and small island nations in establishing early warning systems to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.  

This initiative aligns with the United Nations’ ‘Early Warnings for All’ campaign, aiming to minimize loss of life and property. 

Objective: 

• Reduce the adverse impacts of extreme weather events through the establishment of effective early warning systems in partner countries. 

India’s Role in Developing Early Warning Systems: 

• Technical Expertise and Financial Aid: India offers both technical know-how and financial support to countries like Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius. 
• Public-Private Partnerships: Leveraging public-private partnerships to secure additional financial resources, ensuring sustained support. 
• Meteorological Observatories: Setting up meteorological observatories in partner countries to bolster data collection and analysis. 
• Access to Numerical Models: Partner nations gain access to India’s advanced numerical models, enhancing their forecasting accuracy. 
• Decision Support Systems: Aiding in the creation of decision support tools to enable timely responses to extreme weather events. 
• Data Exchange and Warning Systems: Collaborative efforts between communication ministries to establish efficient data exchange and warning dissemination systems. 

Trends in Extreme Weather Events: 

Global Surge in Natural Disasters: 

• Over fivefold increase in natural disasters from 1970 to 2019. 
• Water-related disasters have become predominant globally. 

Asian Impact: 

• 146,000 deaths and 911 million people affected by disasters (2013-2022). 
• Economic damages exceeding USD 36 billion in 2022, mainly due to floods and storms. 

Human and Economic Toll: 

• Over two million deaths from weather, climate, or water-related disasters (1970-2021). 
• Economic losses surpassing USD 4.3 trillion during the same period. 

Role of Climate Change: 

• Climate change amplifies the frequency and intensity of disasters, posing significant challenges for effective management. 

Future Projections: 

• Estimated 560 medium to large-scale disasters annually by 2030, underscoring the urgency of proactive measures. 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) 

• Establishment: Founded in 1875. 
• Affiliation: Operated under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 
• Responsibilities: Principal agency for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology. 

Early Warnings for All Initiatives: 

Co-leaders: World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). 

Pillars of the Initiative: 

• Disaster Risk Knowledge and Management: Enhance understanding and management of disaster risks. 
• Detection, Observation, Monitoring, Analysis, and Forecasting: Strengthen monitoring and forecasting capabilities. 
• Warning Dissemination and Communication: Efficient dissemination of warnings to the public. 
• Preparedness and Response Capabilities: Enhance readiness and response mechanisms to tackle disasters effectively. 

Mains Question: 

1. Discuss India’s initiative in assisting neighbouring countries and small island nations in developing early warning systems for extreme weather events, highlighting its significance in the context of global climate challenges. (150 WORDS)