UN estimates that 50 percent of the globe lacks disaster warning systems

UN disaster risk and meteorological agencies found that countries without early warning systems are eight times more dangerous than those with them. Governments can plan for storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts with advance warning. Extreme weather is becoming more common, and countries must prepare for climate change. UN report: half the globe is unprepared for calamities. Half the world’s countries lack early warning systems as climate change increases natural disasters and harsh weather. Without improved indicators, lives could be lost. Next month at COP27, the UN will present an action plan. All countries must have early warning systems within five years. Antonio Guterres criticized climate change and its unjust repercussions.

The UN report recommends that every country implement multi-hazard early warning systems. Half have such systems. The poorest nations are the least prepared for natural disasters and extreme weather.

Less than half of the world’s least developed countries have multi-hazard early warning systems. UN’s Office for Disaster Risk Reduction called the protection gap worrying. They appealed for urgent measures to safeguard lives, structures, infrastructure, homes, valuables, jobs, and livelihoods.

Natural disasters and extreme weather have become more frequent. Natural catastrophes impacted 1,147 individuals per 100,000 between 2005 and 2014. In a decade, that number increased to 2,066.

Early warning systems have lowered the number of individuals missing or killed by natural disasters. 2005-2014: 1.77 per 100,000; 0.84 in the last decade. Early warning systems have aided in deadly calamities. Without early warning systems, the recent monsoon floods in Pakistan that killed 1,700 people would have been even deadlier.