AT THE FRONTLINE OF CLIMATE ACTION

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY

23 MARCH 2024

On a Global note

The World Meteorological Day is marked every year on 23rd March and it commemorates the
coming into force on 23 March 1950 of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological
Organization. It is celebrated with activities around the world to showcase the essential
contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing
of society. The World Meteorological Organisation is the second oldest United Nations agency.

The theme of the World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2024 is “At the frontline of climate
action”.

It will be recalled that the International Meteorological Organization – the predecessor of the
World Meteorological Organization – was established in 1873 in an era when pollution from
industrial and human activities was at its beginning. In 1850, the global CO2 concentration was
then 280 ppm. At the beginning of March 2024, the average CO2 concentration in the
atmosphere was 425 ppm at Mauna Loa and the general trend continues to increase.

The World Meteorological Organisation confirms that 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. The Copernicus Climate Monitoring Service indicates that February
2024 was hottest on record.

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.

The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Ms Celeste Saulo, in her

message reiterated that National Meteorological and Hydrological Services are key players in
our fight against climate change. Indeed, the WMO community provides tools and knowledge
on both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services are at the Frontline of Climate Action
and we all agree that Climate Action is indispensable and urgent. The meteorological and
hydrological communities gather, disseminate, and analyze weather, water, and environmental
data. These are the basis for understanding what is happening with climate now and how it has
been changing.
The theme of World Meteorological Day 2024: “At the frontline of climate action”, is a call
to everybody: We must all pull in the same direction today if we want a safer world tomorrow.

Greater coordination between national meteorological and hydrological services, disaster

management authorities and development agencies is fundamental to better prevention,
preparedness and response. Being prepared and able to act at the right time, in the right place,
can save many lives and protect the livelihoods of communities everywhere, both now and in
the future.

At National Level

The Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS) has committed itself to drive the full value
cycle, from science to services to action for the good of society. It has advanced knowledge to
monitor the state of the climate and water resources and provides scientific information on
climate change, delivers early warnings to safeguard life and property.

The World Meteorological Day is an opportunity for MMS to take center stage and play a
pivotal role for risk reduction, development, adaptation, mitigation and sustainability. In the
face of unprecedented environmental challenges, MMS aspires to be not mere observers, but
rather to be called to be game changers.