The United Nations weather agency emphasizes the importance of early warning system for every corner of the planet and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
“The flooding we are seeing in Spain is just one of many extreme weather and water-related disasters taking place around the world this year. Almost every week we see such shocking images”, spokeswoman Clare Nullis told journalists in Geneva.
Many lives were lost as the rain continued
More than 150 people have died in Spain, where a large-scale search and rescue operation is ongoing even as the rain continues.
The Valencia region was the worst affected and “some areas received more than a year’s worth of rain in an eight-hour period.”
She said Spain’s meteorological and hydrological agency, AEMET, had issued continuous advisories and warnings throughout the week through a general warning protocol, referring to a standardized notification format Ensuring all media, all hazards and all communication channels.
A red alert – the highest level – was issued on Friday in the southwestern province of Huelva, “so, Unfortunately this episode isn’t over yet”.
Extreme weather is increasing
Ms. Nullis recalled other areas in Europe this year being hit hard by flooding. In mid-September, many regions in Central Europe received very heavy rainfall, breaking local and national records.
“According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, extreme weather events that cause high-impact floods and droughts are becoming more severe due to human-caused climate change,” she said. go out”.
She pointed WMOrecently published report on Current status of global water resources. Commenting at the time, the head of the agency, Celeste Saulo, said that the hydrological cycle had accelerated due to rising temperatures.
As a result, the world is facing a growing problem of too much or too little water. Furthermore, the warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, facilitating heavy rainfall.
Ms. Nullis said this is what is happening in Spain.
“As the air warms, it becomes more humid. Therefore, Every additional fraction of warming increases the amount of moisture in the atmosphereand this increases the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding,” she explained.
The world must act now
Asked what action could be taken to avoid the devastation caused in Spain and elsewhere, Ms. Nullis said the international community “can get a good start by reducing greenhouse gas emissions which is the cause of this.”
Countries also “need to ensure that early warnings lead to informed early action”.
WMO will publish its latest global climate status update at COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Azerbaijan later this month. The report will provide further details on extreme events around the world over the past year.
