Hanoi (VNA) – Themed “Early Warning and Early Action”, the WorldMeteorological Day 2022 (Mach 23) spotlights the vital importance of hydrometeorologicaland climate information for disaster risk reduction.

Inresponse to the World Meteorological Day 2022, the Vietnam Meteorological and HydrologicalAdministration has compiled communication materials about the Day, including adocumentary on the role of hydrometeorological and climate information inclimate risk reduction, distributed relevant materials issued by the WorldMeteorological Organisation, and coordinated with other agencies to carry outactivities marking the Day.

Theadministration has also worked with the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology,Hydrology and Climate Change to hold a scientific seminar on this issue. The virtualevent gathered regional and provincial hydrometeorological stations nationwide.

DeputyMinister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said activitiesheld in response to the World Meteorological Day, as well as the World WaterDay (March 22) and the Earth Hour campaign need the participation of localities,businesses, and people, along with many countries around the globe.

Inparticular, it is necessary to step up the application of digital technology in socialmedia communications so as to further popularise the events’ significance, messages,and themes to each people, business, and society as a whole, he noted.

Climatechange, including the increase of extreme weather conditions and sea levelrise, has been severely affecting food security, water security, andsustainable development of many countries, including Vietnam.

Vietnamis among those suffering most from natural disasters and climate change. It is frequentlyhit by 21 out of the 22 types of natural disasters in the world, except for tsunamis. Natural disasters cause the death or missing of over 400 people and economic losses equivalent to 1 -1.5 percent of GDP annually over the last 30 years, statistics show.

Natural disasters have been, and still are a serious threat to people's safety and sustainable development, with considerable impacts on every socio-economic aspect, the environment, security- defence, population, and the economy.

Giventhis, Cong added, the country has maintained early warning and early action in hydrometeorologicaland climate information, along with disaster prevention and control, in recentyears, thereby helping minimise disaster consequences and assist with recoveryefforts./.