Joint statement at the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction

According to the Forum, the impacts of climate change, associated sea level rise and extreme weather are amplifying as a result of record greenhouse gas levels and combining with urbanization, environmental degradation and water stress to produce interlocking crises. The four warmest years on record have been in the past four years and the warming trend which has lasted since the start of this century is expected to continue as a result of the increase in greenhouse gas levels.During the forum, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas delivered a joint statement on behalf of the UN system, declaring the need to “make a drastic change of course,” in order to tackle global crises. Climate change mitigation is essential, as is climate change adaptation, he stressed.

• Read the full WMO statement here.
• Access the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction website here.