The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has highlighted the relentless advance of climate change brought more drought, flooding and heatwaves to communities in 2022, compounding threats to people’s lives and livelihoods.

WMO, in its annual report, ‘The State of the Global Climate 2022’, published on Friday, stated that from mountain peaks to ocean depths, climate change continued its advance in 2022.

Droughts, floods and heatwaves affected communities on every continent and cost many billions of dollars.

Antarctic sea ice fell to its lowest extent on record, and the melting of some European glaciers was literally off the charts.

The report shows the planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere caused by record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

“While greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and the climate continues to change, populations worldwide continue to be gravely impacted by extreme weather and climate events,” stated WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas. “For example, in 2022, continuous drought in East Africa, record-breaking rainfall in Pakistan and record-breaking heatwaves in China and Europe affected tens of millions, drove food insecurity, boosted mass migration, and cost billions of dollars in loss and damage.”

Mr Taalas, however, said that collaboration amongst UN agencies had proven to be very effective in addressing humanitarian impacts induced by extreme weather and climate events, especially in reducing associated mortality and economic losses.

“The UN Early Warnings for All Initiative aims to fill the existing capacity gap to ensure that every person on earth is covered by early warning services. At the moment, about 100 countries do not have adequate weather services in place,” he added. “Achieving this ambitious task requires improvement of observation networks, investments in early warning, hydrological and climate service capacities.”

The new WMO report is accompanied by a story map, which provides information for policymakers on how the climate change indicators are playing out and shows how improved technology makes the transition to renewable energy cheaper and more accessible than ever.

In addition to climate indicators, the report focuses on impacts. Rising undernourishment has been exacerbated by the compounded effects of hydrometeorological hazards and COVID-19, as well as protracted conflicts and violence.

(NAN)