DOMINICA, Mar 28 (IPS) – The World Meteorological Group’s State of the Local weather in Latin America and the Caribbean report recounts the toll of record-breaking hurricanes, warmth and flooding within the Area, however shines gentle on renewable vitality and a response to the decision for strong, end-to-end early warning methods.Hope within the face of local weather extremes. That’s the overarching message concerning the State of the Local weather in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024.
The World Meteorological Group (WMO) issued its annual report on March 28, highlighting the area’s struggles with record-breaking hurricanes, heatwaves, and flooding. Regardless of these alarming local weather extremes, the report emphasizes progress in renewable vitality adoption and the event of life-saving early warning methods.
Drought and excessive warmth fueled devastating wildfires. Distinctive rainfall triggered unprecedented flooding, and we noticed the earliest Class 5 hurricane on file,” mentioned the WMO’s Secretary Basic, Professor Celeste Saulo.
“However there’s additionally hope. Early warnings and local weather providers from Nationwide Meteorological and Hydrological Companies are saving lives and rising resilience all through Latin America and the Caribbean. The work of the WMO neighborhood and all our companions is extra vital than ever to satisfy challenges and seize alternatives.”
Local weather Challenges
The report addresses the toll of local weather change, with the interval 1991-2024 displaying a mean warming development of about 0.2 levels Celsius or greater per decade—the best since 1990.
Rising sea ranges brought on by warming oceans and melting ice are threatening coastal communities and ecosystems, notably on the Atlantic facet of South and Central America. Final 12 months, Venezuela turned the second nation on this planet to lose all its glaciers with the disappearance of Humboldt Glacier.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season noticed 18 named storms, together with Main Hurricane Beryl, which turned the earliest Class 5 hurricane on file. Beryl triggered extreme injury throughout Grenada and different southeastern Caribbean islands, akin to Union Island and Carriacou.
Heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires additional disrupted agricultural manufacturing and meals provide chains, driving acute meals insecurity in weak areas.
Renewable Power Progress
The WMO states that in 2024, renewable vitality in Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for almost 69 % of the area’s vitality combine, with a 30 % improve in photo voltaic and wind vitality capability and era in comparison with 2023.
The group states that with a view to speed up the growth of renewable vitality throughout the area, it’s strengthening the capability of nationwide meteorological and hydrological providers to develop science-based operational instruments and providers by partnerships with academia, the personal sector, and vitality stakeholders.
“In 2024, a man-made intelligence (AI)-based short-term wind velocity forecasting product for wind energy vegetation was co-developed in collaboration with the Nationwide Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica and the Costa Rican Electrical energy Institute. In Chile, an evaporation price estimation mannequin for giant water our bodies with floating photo voltaic panels was co-developed. Each international locations have been additionally supported of their efforts to develop high-resolution nationwide atlases for wind (Costa Rica) and photo voltaic vitality (Chile), using reanalysis, observational, and local weather projection knowledge to assist long-term vitality planning,” it added.
These improvements are set for growth throughout different international locations within the area.
Life-Saving Early Warning Programs
Early warning methods (EWS), or instruments that alert communities to hazards like storms or floods, have considerably improved throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Nevertheless, disparities stay between international locations and areas.
The United Nations Early Warning Programs for All Initiative seeks to make sure international EWS protection by 2027.
The report cites Brazil’s expertise throughout life-threatening floods in Rio Grande do Sul for instance each the advantages and gaps of EWS.
“These floods displaced tons of of hundreds of individuals and have been related to 183 deaths. Varied research focus on the meteorological and hydrological points of the extreme rainfall,” the report said, including that whereas well timed warnings ensured that weak populations have been evacuated, this demise toll reveals the necessity for higher catastrophe danger understanding and improved forecasting.
“In the end, this case highlights the rising danger brought on by extremes, particularly to weak populations, in addition to the hazard brought on by inappropriate territorial administration, city planning, and governance on the federal, state, and native ranges,” the report mentioned.
The State of the Local weather for Latin America and the Caribbean report was offered at a WMO Regional Affiliation assembly hosted by El Salvador to information local weather change adaptation, mitigation, and danger administration throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
IPS UN Bureau Report
Comply with @IPSNewsUNBureau
Comply with IPS Information UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2025) — All Rights Reserved. Unique supply: Inter Press Service
