Recently, Ms. Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Meteorological organization (WMO) has paid a visit to China, conducting inspections about early warning practice, response to climate change, and others in Shanghai, Guangdong, Chongqing, Zhejiang, China.

During her stay, concepts like "People first, Life first",“serving people’s livelihood”, and“tailored service” have touched her a lot. “I love the focus on ensuring that’s the people and their safety that is actually of central importance” She remarked.

Ko Barrett was inspecting Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Service.  Source: Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Service

She also spoke highly of the sophisticated systems and expertise in those cities. She stated that “I would say every single city is leading in expertise in various aspects of WMO's work”. She also commented that in China there were very sophisticated systems in place.

Ko Barrett was learning about early warning practice in Zhejiang. Source: Zhejiang Provincial Meteorological Service

China's best practice like the expertise and Urban Multi-hazard Early Warning Toolbox developed by Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Service, the innovative "double-call and response" warning and joint response mechanism and multi-hazard early warning practice of Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Service, "31620" progressive meteorological service mechanism of Chongqing Municipal Meteorological Service and Flood Prevention and Mitigation Management and Decision-making System (Zhi Tian) in Shapingba District, and progressive forecasting and early warning service delivered by Zhejiang Provincial Meteorological Service and its "grid + meteorology" primary governance mechanism have provided a role model for global disaster prevention and mitigation.

“31631”progressive meteorological service mechanism Credits to Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Service Translater and Illustrator: LIU Shuqiao

Flood Prevention and Mitigation Management and Decision-making System (Zhi Tian) in Shapingba District, Chongqing Source: Chongqing Municipal Meteorological Service

In addition, on the occasion of an outreach event on the 62nd Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Ko Barrett also stressed that China's practice in early warning had set an exemplary template for the world.

“The whole country has a lot to offer to the rest of the world”said Ko Barrett, who is anticipating China to share more experience and practice with the global community.

The local practice in early warning will further contribute more strength to China's early warning plan to be shared to the entire world, further bolstering global disaster prevention and mitigation efforts and promoting sustainable development.

Editor: LIU Shuqiao