Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: India Today
Context: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning that sea levels around the Pacific Islands are rising at a rate of approximately 4 mm per year, slightly faster than the global average.
- This accelerated rise poses a serious threat to low-lying islands like Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands. The warning comes from the WMO’s State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2022 report.
- The report also highlighted the occurrence of marine heatwaves in a substantial region northeast of Australia and south of Papua New Guinea, spanning more than six months.
- The report revealed that the region experienced 35 natural hazards in the previous year, leading to over 700 deaths. These events directly affected more than 8 million individuals.
The findings of the WMO report highlight the urgent need for comprehensive climate action to mitigate these impacts and safeguard the future of these vulnerable island nations.
