India (Commonwealth Union)_ According to officials, M. Mohapatra, the director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), will be running for one of the three vice-president positions of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This role holds significant importance within the United Nations agency, as it focuses on monitoring climate change, issuing early warnings, and preparing for disasters. The WMO executive council consists of a secretary general, a president, three vice presidents, six regional association presidents, and 27 directors of National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services. Elections for these positions are conducted every four years.
According to IMD officials, Mohapatra’s election to the vice-president position will provide India with the opportunity to influence global policies regarding early warnings and disaster management. Mohapatra expressed his thoughts on his candidacy in Geneva, where he stated these aspirations. He emphasized that India has played a major role in the WMO since its inception as a founding member. Securing a seat on the executive council will enable India to offer guidance on policy, planning, strategic initiatives, and the improvement of weather and climate services worldwide, particularly in the region.
During the ongoing 19th WMO Congress, which runs from May 22 to June 2, Mohapatra addressed the audience and highlighted India’s accomplishments in meteorology. He specifically discussed how the country managed to reduce the loss of lives during cyclones. Through the modernization of the cyclone warning system in 2007, forecast accuracy improved by 40% in 2020. This improvement in forecasting accuracy, led by RSMC New Delhi, has not only benefited India but also helped minimize casualties to less than 100 in all countries within the North Indian Ocean region. Mohapatra cited the recent cyclone (Mocha) that hit the Myanmar and Bangladesh coasts as an example, demonstrating the region’s capability to limit the loss of life to under 200 through government and public response actions.
India has made notable contributions to meteorology in recent years. These include providing severe weather guidance to countries through the use of INSAT 3D and 3DR satellites, offering the geospatial tool called Rapid, which has been adopted by multiple nations, supplying radars to surrounding countries, developing seven global and regional climate models, and delivering forecasts for tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, winds, and waves to countries in the North Indian Ocean region, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Furthermore, India is actively engaged in polar research at both the north and south poles, as well as earth system modeling for climate change studies and participation in the international monsoon program.
During the WMO Congress, India pledged support for several initiatives, including WMO’s Early Warning for All, Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, Impact-Based Forecast and Risk-Based Warnings, and Global Data Processing and Forecasting System. India has also expressed its commitment to serving as a peer advisor for systematic observation and forecasting facilities in the least developed countries and small island nations. Additionally, India is willing to act as a regional climate center for the entire Himalayan region. These interventions and commitments underscore India’s active involvement and dedication to advancing meteorological research and services on a global scale.
