23 March 2020, World Meteorological Day

World Meteorological Day, Climate & Water, 23 March 2020.
Fresh water is vital for life. On average, a human being cannot survive more than three days without it. Water is essential for the production of our food, virtually all of our goods and services and for the environment. The world now faces increasing challenges posed by water stress, floods and droughts and lack of access to clean supplies. There is an urgent need to improve forecasting, monitoring and management of water supplies and to tackle the problem of too much, too little or too polluted water

Secretary-General’s Message : Fresh water is vital for life. On average, a human being cannot survive more than three days without it. Water is essential for the production of our food, virtually all of our goods and services and for the environment. The world now faces increasing challenges posed by water stress, floods and droughts and lack of access to clean supplies. There is an urgent need to improve forecasting, monitoring and management of water supplies and to tackle the problem of too much, too little or too polluted water. World Meteorological Day and World Water Day 2020 therefore share the theme, Climate and Water. This focuses on managing climate and water in a more coordinated and sustainable manner because they are inextricably linked. Both lie at the heart of global goals on sustainable development, climate change and disaster risk reduction. Hand in hand with UN Water and other key United Nations partners, WMO will work towards enhanced implementation and acceleration of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation. Water is one of the most precious commodities of the 21st century. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services will be central to efforts to “count every drop because every drop counts.

About : World Meteorological Day takes place every year on 23 March, commemorating the date in 1950 when the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization came into force. It showcases the essential contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing of society and is celebrated with activities around the world. The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate or water-related issues. This year, World Meteorological Day and World Water Day share the theme, Climate and Water. The focus is on managing climate and water in a more coordinated and sustainable manner because they are inextricably linked. Both lie at the heart of the global goals on sustainable development, climate change and disaster risk reduction. On 23 March 2020, WMO and UN-Water will celebrate together World Meteorological Day and World Water Day – which falls officially on 22 March – together at an event at WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.