United in Science: Reboot climate action

Jakarta – A multi-agency report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that the world is far from meeting critical climate goals. The United in Science report highlights the widening gap between climate aspirations and reality, revealing a potential global temperature rise of 3°C this century under current policies, the WMO said in a statement, Wednesday, September 18.

The report calls for urgent, ambitious action, emphasising that decisions made today will determine whether humanity experiences a breakthrough or a breakdown.

“We need urgent and ambitious action now to support sustainable development, climate action and disaster risk reduction. The decisions we make today could be the difference between a future breakdown or a breakthrough to a better world,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

“Artificial Intelligence and machine learning have emerged as potentially transformative technologies that are revolutionizing weather forecasting and can make it faster, cheaper and more accessible. Cutting-edge satellite technologies and virtual realities that bridge the physical and digital worlds are opening new frontiers in, for instance, land and water management,” said Celeste Saulo.

“However, science and technology alone are not enough to address global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development alone. In an increasingly complex world, we must embrace diverse knowledge, experiences and perspectives to co-create solutions together,” she said.

The report also identifies new technologies, including artificial intelligence and space-based Earth observations, as game-changers in weather forecasting and climate adaptation. However, it stresses that science and technology alone are not enough. A transdisciplinary approach, incorporating natural and social sciences, as well as diverse perspectives, is essential to address the challenges of climate change and sustainable development.

As the UN Summit of the Future approaches, the report underscores the need for international collaboration and innovative solutions to bridge the gap between current efforts and the climate targets of the Paris Agreement. With the window for action narrowing, the call for global cooperation has never been more urgent. The UN Summit of the Future takes place from 20 to 23 September. (nsh)

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