The United Nations has reported that record numbers of people were displaced by climate-related disasters in the past year, emphasizing the urgent need for global early warning systems. These disasters, including cyclones, droughts, and wildfires, particularly affected poorer nations but also impacted wealthy countries. The UN calls for enhanced climate services and increased investments in disaster preparedness.

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• Record displacement: Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee climate disasters in 2024, with the International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) documenting these figures.
• Mozambique saw around 100,000 displaced due to Cyclone Chido.
• Wealthy countries impacted: Spain’s Valencia experienced deadly floods killing 224 people; Canada and the US faced devastating wildfires displacing 300,000 people.
• Urgent need for early warning systems: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stresses the importance of global early warning systems, aiming for worldwide coverage by 2027.
• Current progress: Only half of the countries globally have adequate early warning systems.
• US policy concerns: The return of climate skeptic President Donald Trump raises concerns about the future of NOAA and climate science in the US.
• Investment in climate services: WMO chief Celeste Saulo calls for increased investment in weather and climate services to build more resilient communities.
• Climate change indicators: 2024 was the warmest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C threshold set by the 2015 Paris Accords.
• Distress signals from Earth: Oceans continue to warm, sea levels rise, and glaciers and Antarctic sea ice are retreating rapidly.
• WMO’s call: Despite rising temperatures, the WMO states that limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C is still possible.