GENEVA — GENEVA (AP) – United Nations The chief gave a strong defense of science and meteorology on Wednesday, praising the U.N. weather agency for helping save lives by observing climate disasters around the world.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to the World Meteorological Organization as science in the United States faces attack as President Donald Trump's administration heads anti-science pushand Trump called climate change ” scam“
A longtime advocate for combating global warming, Guterres spoke at a special WMO meeting aimed at promoting early warning systems that help rich and poor countries prepare for floods, storms, wildfires and heat waves.
“Without your long-term monitoring, we would not be able to benefit from the warnings and advisories that protect communities and save millions of lives and billions of dollars every year,” he said, referring to the “dangerous and existential threat of climate change.”
Last week the Met Office reported that heat retention carbon dioxide level Last year, the atmosphere jumped to its highest levels on record, rising to levels unseen in human civilization and causing even more extreme weather conditions.
Guterres called WMO staff “the quiet force that illuminates all the smart climate decisions we make.”
“Scientists and researchers should never be afraid to speak the truth,” he added.
The Trump administration has made deep cuts. National Weather Service and fired hundreds of weather forecasters and other employees National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
