Climate and COVID-19 dominate Davos agenda

WMO – The COVID-19 pandemic and climate risks dominated the 2021 Davos Agenda hosted by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, according to a report from the World Meteorological Association (WMO)

WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas joined a top-level panel on Jan. 26 on Climate Adaptation for Resilience to discuss what policies, practices and partnerships are needed to integrate climate adaptation measures into corporate and government strategies. The event also served as the official closure of the Adaptation Summit.

Taalas highlighted three ongoing WMO initiatives to support climate adaptation.

– The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Initiative to increase resilience to extreme weather.

– The Systematic Observations Financing Facility to close gaps in the global observing system which is vital to weather forecasts and early warnings.

– A Climate and Water Coalition initiative to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal 6 on to ensure access to water and sanitation for all and to improve management of water resources and better cope with hazards like floods and droughts.

“It is time to go from political promises to concrete action,” said Taalas. “We have to pay attention to adapation and mitigation. From the WMO side, we are happy to be part of the game.”

Strengthening adaptation is one of the four major goals of the UN Climate Change negotiations taking place in November in Glasgow, COP26 President Alok Sharma told the World Economic Forum panel. The others are: securing a more ambitious reduction in emissions; increasing climate finance and enhancing international cooperation against climate change.