WMO Champions Youth Empowerment and Safe Schools on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Focus on Education and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems to Protect the Next Generation and Build Resilient Communities

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) joins the global community in celebrating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 13 October 2024, highlighting the theme: "Empowering the Next Generation for a Resilient Future." This year, the focus is on harnessing the education sector to protect and empower children and youth, helping them become champions of disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

Countries are encouraged to prioritize investments in two key areas:

Safe schools and education facilities: Ensuring that schools are resilient to disasters and integrated into early warning systems to protect children and youth.

Youth education and empowerment: Providing age-appropriate disaster education so young people can understand the risks they face and act on early warnings, making them active agents of change in their communities.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the critical role of youth in climate resilience during his visit to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga. He presented a new booklet in the Tongan language encouraging children to become "disaster champions," aligning with the global Early Warnings For All (EW4All) initiative and the Weather-Ready Pacific program.

With over 2 billion young people globally—many living in disaster-prone regions such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—the WMO and its partners aim to ensure that youth are not burdened with the long-term consequences of climate change. By engaging youth in Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), countries can better mitigate the effects of natural disasters and strengthen community resilience.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed that empowering youth with disaster risk reduction (DRR) knowledge and skills not only enhances early warning systems but also brings fresh, innovative solutions to climate challenges. Integrating youth perspectives is seen as key to improving MHEWS and disaster preparedness efforts.

COPE Disaster Champions, an initiative supported by WMO is an essential part of this youth empowerment movement. The program distributes educational materials, including books on natural hazards, to help children understand climate crises and develop disaster preparedness. To date, over 3 million children in 40 countries have benefited from the series, which includes guidance on responding to hazards like floods, earthquakes, and cyclones.

Moreover, the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) offers governments a blueprint for safeguarding children and staff from disasters in the education sector. WMO calls for countries to commit to implementing this framework and protecting the next generation from disaster risks.

In regions like Niue, initiatives led by Niue Meteorological Services have successfully engaged youth, such as the Boys' and Girls' Brigades, in community-based early warning systems, equipping them with climate science knowledge and disaster preparedness skills. These efforts demonstrate how grassroots partnerships can amplify the impact of MHEWS and empower youth to take on leadership roles in their communities.

The increasing frequency of climate-related disasters continues to disrupt the education of millions of children worldwide, with an estimated 400 million students affected by school closures due to extreme weather since 2022. In low-income countries, children lose 18 school days annually on average due to climate shocks, compared to 2.4 days in wealthier nations. Investing in child-centered disaster risk reduction policies is essential for mitigating the long-term impacts of climate change on education and ensuring that schools remain safe spaces for learning.

As the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction highlights, the future of climate resilience rests in the hands of today’s youth. By equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and support they need, countries can build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.