Climate hazards cost the world economy $8 billion, according to the WMO

According to Celeste Saulo, the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the concerns posed by climate change have cost the global economy around $8 billion to far.

She made this statement on Monday in Abuja during the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA)-hosted 2024 annual edition of the Regional Climate Outlook Forum of the seasonal forecasting of Agro-Hydro-Climatic characteristics of the Sahelian and Sudan region of West Africa.

“The adverse effects of climate change have directly affected over 110 million people, resulting in $8 billion in global economic losses,” the speaker stated. “Therefore, the United Nations is taking deliberate plans for early warning in numerical weather conditions in partnership with the World Meteorological Organisation.”

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) Director General, Prof. Charles Anosike, stated in his speech that scientists from throughout Africa and beyond will be running various models and analyses for the next four days and should produce a robust seasonal outlook for the region as it is essential to meeting the UN’s Early Warning for All and spurring economic growth.

“This year’s Regional Climate Outlook is timely,” he stated, “despite the tremendous advances and investments in climate science and operational forecasting over the past century,” weather and climate events still have a negative impact on our region’s economy.

The specialists must provide useful but actionable documentation, according to Anosike, in order to increase productivity and give early warning systems that would lessen climate-related calamities and economic losses throughout the area.