CHENNAI: Climate knowledge is an invaluable resource and a prerequisite for action on climate change — this was the theme for the World Meteorological Day programme organised by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai on Monday.
The seminar brought together experts in the environmental sector to discuss issues regarding climate change.
Climate change affects all socio-economic sectors from agriculture to tourism to infrastructure to health. It slows down and threatens sustainable development. The cost of inaction is extremely high, said M Jarraud, secretary general of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
“Weather information is short term, but climate information is an important indicator of climate change,” said K Palanivelu, director, CCC&AR, Anna University, who delivered the special address. However, it is not easy to collect and compile such information and weather information should be converted into climate information, he said. Spelling out the effects of climate change, he said climate change could bring water shortage, storms, heat waves and increased global temperatures.
S B Thampi, deputy director general of meteorology, RMC, gave the welcome address and said that we could reduce our carbon footprint with measures like avoiding overuse of fossil fuels and taking public transport.
