Half the countries lack adequate multi-hazard early warning systems, according to a report from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Meteorological Organisation. While progress has been made in saving lives from extreme weather and climate impacts, there is still a long way to go. Africa has doubled its early warning systems coverage, but still falls below the global average. Less than half of Least Developed Countries and only 40% of Small Island Developing States have such systems. The report was released at a high-level event in Dubai attended by ministers and stakeholders.
This year (until the end of October) was about 1.40 degrees Celsius warmer over the pre-industrial (1850-1900) baseline, the World Meteorological Organisation said on the opening day of the UN Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai , adding that 2023 will be the warmest year irrespective of the last two months of the year.