Climate change and the increasing levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have been a global concern for years. In response to this, the 19th World Meteorological Congress (WMC) approved the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W), a monitoring initiative aimed at reducing heat-trapping gases and addressing climate change. Simultaneously, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), in collaboration with the WHO, released a plan for advancing Climate, Environment and Health Science and Services from 2023 to 2033.
About The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The WMO is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 192 member states and territories, including India. Founded from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO) after the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress, it was officially established by the WMO Convention on 23rd March 1950. The WMO, now a specialized agency of the United Nations, focuses on meteorology, operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W)
The G3W is an initiative designed to create an internationally coordinated monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. This project will fill critical information gaps and provide an integrated operational framework, bringing together all space-based and surface-based observing systems and model and data assimilation capabilities. The G3W expands the WMO’s long-standing GHG monitoring activities under its Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and Integrated Global GHG Information System (IG3IS).
Components of G3W
The G3W system involves surface-based and satellite-based observations, prior estimates of GHG emissions based on activity data and process-based models, high-resolution Earth System models representing GHG cycles, and data assimilation systems associated with models. This comprehensive GHG observation and modeling exchange will improve our understanding of the carbon cycle, which is crucial for planning mitigation activities.
Significance of Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are those that absorb and emit radiant energy at thermal infrared wavelengths, causing the greenhouse effect. The primary GHGs in Earth’s atmosphere are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3). Programs like the Paris Agreement and UN SDGs, as well as India’s National Action Plan to Combat Climate Change (NAPCC) and India Cooling Action Plan, are focused on curbing GHG emissions.
The 2023-2033 Implementation Plan
This plan aims to improve health and well-being for people facing the impacts of extreme weather events, climate change, and environmental risks through integration of climate, environment, and health science services worldwide. It underlines the need for a coordinated approach to manage the impact of various environmental factors on health.
Climate Change: The Current Scenario and Concerns
Between 2030-2050, climate change could result in approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress. If current emission levels persist, nearly 8.4 billion people could be at risk from malaria and dengue by the end of the century. The threat is not just limited to diseases; issues like wildfires, air quality, and heatwaves are also on the rise. In fact, India experienced its hottest March in 2022, leading to early heat waves across various regions. If this continues, an estimated 600 million Indians could be exposed to dangerous temperatures by 2030.