150 Years of IMD: WMO Chief Urges Global Climate Action by 2025

The Paris Agreement is under critical threat, and 2025 must be a landmark year for decisive climate action, said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. Speaking at the 150th anniversary celebration of IMD, she emphasized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She also stressed to accelerating the shift to renewable energy to address the climate crisis.

Saulo highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change while speaking at an event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi. He cites 2024 as the hottest year on record globally and in India.

India’s Climate Challenges in 2024

Saulo highlighted that 2024 was the hottest year on record for India and globally. She noted its severe impact on human health, agriculture, water supply, and energy systems.

“Heavy monsoon rains caused disruption and death, as we saw with tragic landslides in Kerala in July. More recently, air pollution hit alarming and dangerous levels in many parts of the country,” Saulo said. “India’s challenges underscore the urgent need for global climate action,” She said, recalling the devastating impacts of these events.

Global Temperatures Breach 1.5°C Threshold

According to the WMO’s consolidated analysis, 2024 became the first calendar year with a global mean temperature of 1.55°C above the 1850-1900 baseline. It marks a significant breach of the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement.

“But as we all know, it is in very grave danger…. We must mark 2025 as a year of decisive climate action to reduce greenhouse gases and speed up the transition to renewable energy,” she said at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh.

While this milestone does not signify a permanent exceedance, Saulo warned that the agreement is in “grave danger” and called for immediate and coordinated action to prevent long-term warming.

Saulo emphasized the vital role of national meteorological and hydrological services in advancing renewable energy and supporting mitigation strategies. “In the long term, the cost of climate action will be much less than the cost of inaction. We owe it to future generations and the planet,” she stressed.

Celebrating 150 Years of IMD

Praising the IMD’s 150-year legacy, Saulo highlighted its contributions to weather forecasting and research across the Indian subcontinent. She lauded India’s leadership in meteorological science and its long-standing partnership with the WMO, where an Indian representative has served on the executive board for over 60 years.

“India’s pioneering spirit in meteorology has significantly enhanced resilience and global cooperation,” she remarked.