The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) joined global efforts in recognizing the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on October 13, 2024, with a focus on empowering youth for a resilient future. The theme emphasized the importance of engaging the younger generation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts to ensure a sustainable, disaster-resilient world.
This year, the observance called on countries to leverage education to reduce disaster risks for school-aged children. Two key areas of focus were identified:
- Safe Schools and Education Facilities: Ensuring that schools are resilient to disasters and integrated into early warning systems, so children can learn in a safe environment.
- Empowering Youth through Education: Providing age-appropriate education to help young people understand the risks they face and take action in the event of early warnings. By building their preparedness, youth can become change agents for more resilient communities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the necessity of equipping young people with the skills to address climate change, stating, “Young people must be equipped with skills and knowledge to shape a greener, cleaner, more climate resilient future.”
In August, during his visit to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, Guterres presented a new booklet in the Tongan language to encourage children to become “disaster champions,” further supporting the Early Warnings For All initiative and the Weather Ready Pacific programme.
The WMO has emphasized the importance of integrating youth into the development of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), which are crucial for adapting to and building resilience against climate change. Despite the significant impact climate-related disasters have on youth, many regions, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), have low coverage of MHEWS. Only 44% of LDCs and 38% of SIDS report having effective early warning systems.
Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, stated, “It is imperative that we prioritize youth involvement in the creation and implementation of robust MHEWS, paving the way for a sustainable future.”
The WMO’s Early Warnings For All initiative aims to build national capacity and integrate regional and global support, with a focus on LDCs, SIDS, and fragile states. As part of this initiative, WMO also supports the COPE Disaster Champions project, which provides educational resources on disaster risk reduction for children. The project has reached over 3 million children across 40 countries, with books covering various natural hazards and offering practical coping tools and preparedness strategies.
The initiative is aligned with global calls to strengthen disaster resilience through education, as extreme weather events increasingly disrupt schools and communities. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction reported that 400 million students globally have experienced school closures due to extreme weather since 2022.
The focus on youth engagement is evident in local projects, such as the collaboration between the Niue Meteorological Services and the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades in Niue. Through this partnership, young people gained hands-on experience with climate science, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness. The initiative also includes traditional knowledge, such as monitoring the growth of ufi (a local climate indicator) to understand seasonal changes linked to cyclones.
The growing frequency and intensity of disasters emphasize the need for child-centered DRR policies that integrate the needs and vulnerabilities of children into national disaster and climate change plans. With climate change posing increasing threats to education, experts stress that protecting young people and ensuring they have access to effective early warning systems will help safeguard entire communities.
In light of these challenges, global efforts are calling on governments and partners to commit to implementing comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies and ensure that no child is left behind.
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