The UN, Government of Eswatini and Partners Celebrate World Meteorology Day

During this Decade of Action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, World Meteorology Day comes as a pertinent reminder to accelerate efforts to protect lives on land and the sea. This year’s theme, “The Ocean, Our Climate and Weather” highlights the criticality of observations, research and services to establish their connection with the ocean and indeed, their impact on the climate and Earth’s vulnerability.

This year’s commemorations comes hand-in-hand with the launch of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) which aims to rouse efforts to gather ocean science through innovative and transformative ideas, to serve as the basis of information and ultimately support sustainable development.

Eswatini has recently experienced the devastating effects of extreme weather, and in turn climate change; demonstrated in 2020’s Tropical Storm Eloise. Eric Seyama, a representative of the National Disaster Management Agency, noted that Tropical Storm Eloise caused extreme damage of properties, livestock and infrastructure in certain areas of the country.

During the commemoration, the Honorable Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati, emphasized the criticality for emaSwati to understand the importance of taking care of the environment to avoid climate change which has disastrous effects on both the environment and Eswatini’s people.

The UN Resident Coordinator encouraged emaSwati to work to protect the nation’s natural resources, particularly rivers and wetlands and applauded the Government for “the efforts it has undertaken to eliminate plastic waste from the environment under the ‘Carry Your Bag’ initiative and enhance climate action ambition through the revised Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement on climate change.”

The UN and Government of Eswatini are committed to ensuring that by 2025, Eswatini is on-track for an inclusive low carbon development pathway that is both resilient to climate change and natural resources are effectively managed.  In collaboration, the UN and Government continue to work to empower communities to  adapt to climate change and ultimately improve their livelihood and health and food security, particularly amongst vulnerable and marginalized communities.