Flooding in Germany, June 2024. Space technology and artificial intelligence offer hope in the fight against the climate crisis Climate and environment
The impacts of climate change and extreme weather are eroding development gains and threatening the well-being of people and the planet, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Greenhouse gases and global temperatures are at record levels. Under current policies, there is a 66 percent chance of global warming of 3 degrees Celsius this century, according to the Unity on Science report.
Urgent Action
There is also an 80 percent chance that the global average surface temperature will rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in at least one of the next five years.
“The science is clear: we are way off course to meet vital climate goals. 2023 was the warmest year on record by a huge margin. “The first eight months of 2024 will also be the warmest on record, according to key global datasets,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
“We need urgent and ambitious action to support sustainable development, combat climate change and reduce disaster risk,” Saulo said. Her comments came amid wildfires in Latin America and Portugal, floods in Central Europe and landslides in Southeast Asia.
The Potential of Technology
“Artificial intelligence and machine learning have emerged as potentially transformative technologies that are revolutionising weather forecasting and can make it faster, cheaper and more accessible,” the WMO chief said.
Highlighting the importance of satellite technology, she explained that innovations in space observations have helped improve the monitoring of greenhouse gas sources and carbon sinks. Saulo also noted the potential of technologies such as digital mock-ups and virtual reality. This involves creating a virtual replica of a physical object, such as the Earth, and simulating the environment.
Shared Solutions
“But science and technology alone are not enough to address global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development. In an increasingly complex world, we must draw on different knowledge, experiences and perspectives to create solutions together,” she added.
The WMO chief called on all countries to share their knowledge and expertise at the Future Summit in New York on 22-23 September “to ensure that the benefits of science and technology are available to all.”