Every year, 23 March is celebrated as the World Meteorological Day. Background The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) commemorates the World Meteorological Day since 1961. It signifies the coming into force of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950. It showcases the essential contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing of society and is celebrated with activities around the world. The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate or water-related issues. Climate challenges Each decade since the 1980s has been warmer than the previous one. 2023 was the hottest year on record, with the global mean temperature at about 1.45°C above the 1850-1900 average. This was largely due to a combination of human-induced climate change and El Niño, a naturally occurring phenomenon. Rising temperatures are being accompanied by more extreme events – heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. The weather is being turbo-charged by the excess energy in the atmosphere trapped by record levels of greenhouse gases. Ocean heat is record high. The warming has accelerated and is expected to continue for hundreds and even thousands of years. Ocean acidification is also increasing, impacting marine ecosystems. Sea level rise has speeded up dramatically, posing a growing threat to low-lying states and coastal populations. Glaciers and ice sheets are retreating – and this will jeopardize future water security, essential ecosystems and worsen sea level rise. Sea ice continues to shrink, and permafrost is melting which further heightens the potential for greenhouse gas emissions. Theme for 2025 The theme for World Meteorological Day 2025 is "Closing the early warning gap together". WMO confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record. Changes in our environment are driving more extreme weather events. Rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, devastating rainfall, storm surges, flooding, deadly droughts, and wildfires are on the rise. Sea levels are increasing, exposing densely populated coastal areas to coastal inundation and ocean wave impacts. The societal effects of these events continue long after the headlines fade. The day emphasizes the critical importance of early warning systems in disaster prevention and mitigation. It highlights how these systems can help people anticipate and prepare for various natural hazards like storms, floods, and heat waves before they strike, ultimately saving millions of lives. Sustainable Development Goal 13 commits us to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Progress in this goal underpins progress in all the other Sustainable Development Goals. Weather and climate predictions help boost food production and move closer to zero hunger. Integrating epidemiology and climate information helps understand and manage diseases sensitive to climate. And early-warning systems help to reduce poverty by giving people the chance to prepare and limit the impact of extreme weather. Science is central to solutions and can supercharge progress on the SDGs across the board. Source : UN website - World Meteorological Day