China's Efforts to Close the Early Warning Gap on World Meteorological Day

World Meteorological Day, observed on March 23rd, marked its 65th anniversary this year, focusing on the theme of "Closing the Early Warning Gap Together." The Earth is currently facing significant climate challenges, with 2024 being the hottest year on record. The resulting increase in extreme weather events underscores the critical need for effective early warning systems to prevent and mitigate disasters.

In response to these challenges, the United Nations Secretary-General launched the Early Warnings for All initiative in March 2022. China is actively implementing its National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035, aiming to build a climate-resilient society. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is committed to enhancing meteorological science and technology, improving public services, and providing robust support to achieve the goals of the EW4All initiative.

The CMA has significantly improved its capabilities in meteorological disaster monitoring, forecasting, and warning, as well as prevention and response. The new-generation National Emergency Early Warning Information Release System now disseminates 82 types of warning information to designated emergency responders within one minute, reaching 99.1 percent public coverage. China has also established effective early warning mechanisms, such as Progressive Service and High-Impact Alert and Response systems, ensuring immediate action and confirmation in response to high-impact hazards.

China is also actively collaborating with other developing countries to enhance climate resilience. This includes providing professional training, visiting scholar programs, and research scholarships. Furthermore, China's Fengyun meteorological satellite data services are available to 133 countries and regions, with an 80 percent global service satisfaction rate.

International cooperation is also a key aspect of China's efforts. For example, the CMA and the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration have shared rainfall observation data, supporting disaster mitigation efforts. Additionally, the CMA and the Pakistan Meteorological Department have jointly developed an Early Warning Supporting System tailored for Pakistan, utilizing a cloud-based platform and various tools to track meteorological disasters effectively.