WMO Presser: Report - Looming Water Crisis
/
3:12
/
MP4
/
236.1 MB

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNOG , WMO

WMO Presser: Report - Looming Water Crisis needs monitoring and early warnings

Growing water-related hazards require monitoring and early warnings, highlights report by World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The number of people suffering from water-related hazards like floods and droughts is increasing because of climate change. However, forecasting and early warnings are inadequate and global climate finance efforts insufficient, according to a report published today by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

“There has been a dramatic increase in the flooding events during the past 20 years and that increase has been of 134% and we know that because of this current 1.5 degree warming of the planet, we have more humidity in the atmosphere; we have 7% more humidity in the atmosphere because of the current warming and that is also contributing to the flooding“, said Professor Petteri Taalas, WMO’s Secretary-General, today at a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.

Most of the flood-related deaths and economic losses were recorded in Asia, where end-to-end warning systems for riverine floods require strengthening.

The number of droughts also increased by 29% over this same period. Most drought-related deaths occurred in Africa.

“We have also seen an increase in the amount of and duration of drought events”, stated WMO’s Secretary-General. “We have about 30% increase at the same time during the past 20 years and this has been very much affecting Africa where both observing systems and early warning services are perhaps the poorest. And the population growth in Africa is boosting this challenge”.

The report called “The State of Climate Services 2021: Water”, a collaboration between the WMO, international organizations, development agencies and scientific institutions, highlights the need for urgent action to improve cooperative water management and scale up investment on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

It estimates that the number of people with inadequate access to water will reach more than 5 billion by 2050 versus 3.6 billion in 2018.

“According to our sister organization FAO, there has been already 2 billion inhabitants of our planet, one fourth of our planet, where people have been exposed to major water stress and there is a lack of drinking water and also a lack of water for agriculture,“ said WMO’s Secretary-General. He added that “also the water resources management is limited according to our sister organization UNEP (UN Environment Programme). We have 107 countries which are not managing their water resources in a sustainable way.”

This past year has seen extreme rainfall caused massive flooding in Japan, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Indian where millions of people were displaced, and hundred killed. In Europe catastrophic flooding led to hundreds of deaths and widespread damage.

According to Mr. Taalas, “sixty percent of WMO members don’t have a proper water sector services, and this is also one of the major challenges for us, and that is also one of the major challenges for climate adaptation. For climate adaptation, we need proper early warning services and the situation at the moment is not suitable.”

WMO’s Secretary-General has reason to believe that the negative trend in weather patterns will continue for coming decades. “Some of these features, like melting of glaciers and sea level rise, will continue for centuries because of the high concentration of carbon dioxide. We have to improve the observing systems and we have to improve the early warning services’ capability of especially least developed countries and that is the way to avoid both the casualties and economic losses related to climate change.”

-ends-

  1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
  2. Medium-wide shot, inside the press conference room, showing speakers, participants and photographers.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English): Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “There has been a dramatic increase in the flooding events during the past 20 years and that increase has been of 134% and we know that because of this current 1.5 degree warming of the planet, we have more humidity in the atmosphere; we have 7% more humidity in the atmosphere because of the current warming and that is also contributing to the flooding.”
  4. Close shot, a participant listening to the WMO Presser.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English): Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “And we have also seen an increase in the amount of and duration of drought events. We have about 30% increase at the same time during the past 20 years and this has been very much affecting Africa where both observing systems and early warning services are perhaps the poorest. And the population growth in Africa is boosting this challenge.”
  6. Medium shot of the speakers and of the press briefing broadcast on Zoom.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English): Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “According to our sister organization FAO, there has been already 2 billion inhabitants of our planet, one fourth of our planet where people have been exposed to major water stress and there is a lack of drinking water and also lack of water for agriculture.“
  8. Close shot, a participant listening to the WMO Presser.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English): Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “And also the water resources management is limited according to our sister organization UNEP, we have 107 countries which are not managing their water resources in a sustainable way.”
  10. Medium shot, photographers taking pictures of the press briefing broadcast on Zoom.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English): Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Sixty percent of WMO members don’t have a proper water sector services, and this is also one of the major challenges for us, and that is also one of the major challenges for climate adaptation. For climate adaptation, we need proper early warning services and the situation at the moment is not suitable.”
  12. Close shot, a participant taking notes.
  13. SOUNDBITE (English): Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Some of these features, like melting of glaciers and sea level rise, will continue for centuries because of the high concentration of carbon dioxide. We have to improve the observing systems and we have to improve the early warning services’ capability of especially least developed countries and that is the way to avoid both the casualties and economic losses related to climate change.”
  14. Close shot, a photographer taking pictures.
  15. Medium shot, cameramen filming the WMO presser.
  16. Close shot, the Press Conference filmed by a camera.

Documents 2
WMO Presser 5 October 2021 PP presentation
Download

Audio Files 2
Download WMO Presser: Report - Looming Water Crisis
Download
Download WMO Presser 5 October 2021 continuity (Continuity)
Download

Similar Stories

Gaza update – WHO 27 June 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | WHO

Gaza update – WHO 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

The first meagre midweek delivery of urgently needed medical goods to enter Gaza in months will provide scant relief to the enclave’s people, who continue to be shot and killed as they search for food, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

HRC 59 - Human Rights in Myanmar - 27 June 2025

2

1

2

Statements , Edited News | HRC

HRC 59 - Human Rights in Myanmar - 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

Enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Myanmar presented by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and oral update by Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 27 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organisation, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organisation.

DR Congo update - Tom Fletcher 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNOG

DR Congo update - Tom Fletcher 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

The conflict-impacted people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urgently need much more international assistance than they are getting today, the UN’s top aid official said on Thursday.

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls - 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls - 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

Forms of sex-based violence against women and girls, and the concept of consent in relation to violence against women and girls

UNCTAD Press conference: impact of AI on labor, policies and global equity - 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference: impact of AI on labor, policies and global equity - 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

How AI and the digital economy intersect with labor markets, policy gaps, and global equity – Background briefing ahead of Ai for Good Summit

Myanmar crisis - Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews 25 June 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNOG

Myanmar crisis - Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews 25 June 2025 ENG FRA

Violence in Myanmar is spiralling as the military junta increases its attacks on monasteries, schools and camps sheltering people uprooted by the civil war, a top independent human rights investigator warned on Wednesday.

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar - 25 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar - 25 June 2025 ENG FRA

Press conference by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Gaza update-OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Gaza update-OHCHR ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on Palestinians killed seeking food in Gaza

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity - 24 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity - 24 June 2025 ENG FRA

Call for Solidarity and Peace: Addressing the Normalization of Violence and Arctic Militarization Risks through Indigenous Peoples’ Examples, Including Insights from the Independent Expert’s Visit to Denmark and Greenland

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | ITU , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNESCO , UNHCR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 June 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Telecommunication Union, and the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.

Iran update - OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Iran update - OHCHR ENG FRA

Iran-Israel war: UN rights office concerned over strike on Tehran prison, reported espionage arrests

Tehran’s notorious Evin prison known for holding dissidents should not be a target, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday, a day after a reported Israeli strike on the complex.