Early warning systems crucial as C/bean region faces climate change – CMO Director

As the Caribbean continues to face compounded climatic crises, this year’s observance of World Meteorological Day has highlighted the importance of partnerships in ensuring that all countries in the region can access timely, reliable, and actionable early hazard warnings.

The Caribbean is on the frontline of climate change, experiencing rising sea levels, rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, devastating floods, excessive heat, severe weather, dangerous lightning strikes, and droughts. These hazards pose an increasing threat to lives, livelihoods, and economies.
In a recent statement in observance of World Meteorological Day 2025, Dr. Arlene Laing, Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) Headquarters Unit, highlighted that the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative, spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), has made significant strides in closing the early warning gap.
“As of 2024, 108 countries, including several in the Caribbean, have reported improved multi-hazard early warning systems’ capacity. For example, the excellent forecast, early warnings, stakeholder engagement, anticipatory action and preparedness greatly reduced the loss of life during the passage of the catastrophic Hurricane Beryl, which was the earliest Category 5 hurricane experienced in the Atlantic and the Caribbean,” she noted.
With human-induced climate change leading to more extreme weather and climate conditions, the need for effective multi-hazard early warning systems is more crucial than ever. Systems that warn people of impending storms, floods or droughts, and systems that support action, are not luxuries but are cost-effective tools that save lives, reduce economic losses, and provide a nearly tenfold return on investment.
The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative aims to ensure universal protection from hazardous Hydrometeorological, climatological and related environmental events through life-saving multi-hazard early warning systems, anticipatory action, and resilience efforts by the end of 2027, as called for by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022.
However, much remains to be done to ensure that early warnings reach every individual, particularly in Caribbean small-island developing states (SIDS), where communities are disproportionately affected by climate change.
On this point, the director revealed that the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), in collaboration with Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CRWS) and other Caricom regional institutions, has launched a new initiative which aims to close the public knowledge gap, particularly among youths.
“We’re excited to launch the Lightning Safety Awareness Contest for schoolchildren. The contest aims to close the gap in public knowledge of lightning safety and first aid through youth engagement, creative expression, and public awareness. Schools in the English-speaking Caribbean are invited to prepare and submit videos demonstrating what to do before, during, and after lightning storms; and how to provide first-aid to lightning strike victims,” she detailed.
Dr Laing has explained that, by working together, leveraging innovation and fostering international cooperation, Caricom aims to ensure that every Caribbean citizen is protected, prepared, and empowered in the face of an uncertain climate future.