Chongqing - "I never expected to find such a sophisticated system here in the Southwest of China," said Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), during her visit to the Chongqing Meteorological Bureau on February 27.

"I hope we can find ways to work directly with Chongqing and other municipalities across China to share this expertise with the world," Barrett added.

Since 2015, China has built a national early warning system with 99.1% public coverage for meteorological alerts. Disaster prevention is key to its modernization in flood- and typhoon-prone Chongqing. The city's self-developed smart system integrates meteorological disaster management into its broader governance.

The Jinfo Mountain National Atmospheric Background Station is one of China's newly established atmospheric background stations and the only one in Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Meteorological Bureau)

The Chongqing Meteorological Bureau Bridging News that the city’s early warning system issues alerts one, two, and six hours in advance. Information is shared via 16 channels, including mobile apps, SMS, cable TV, and emergency broadcasts, reaching 99.8% of the population.

"I love how the local municipalities, provinces, and central government work together to ensure early warning information reaches the people effectively," Barrett said. "This is a model for the world. Investing in infrastructure, like digital cloud systems and training, is key to building global capacities."

Furthermore, Chongqing's meteorological efforts align with the UN's "Early Warning for All" initiative, which aims to ensure that every person on the planet has access to early warning systems by 2027. "I'm encouraged that we can help many countries see this as a model for their own development," Barrett added.

Chongqing’s advanced weather systems feature the "4 Tian" intelligent meteorological system, which includes the "Tianshu Intelligent Observation System," "Tianzi Intelligent Forecasting System," "Zhitian Smart Service System," and "Yutian Smart Disaster Prevention System." This innovative system improves real-time forecasting and disaster response, ensuring quick and effective solutions to weather-related challenges.

An example of the "4 Tian" system in action occurred on July 29, 2024, when the residual effects of Typhoon Gemei hit Chongqing. In Shizhu County, heavy rainfall totaled 104.1 mm in Yanxi Town. Thanks to the city's disaster response protocols, the local government swiftly mobilized an emergency rescue team, evacuating 26 people from 14 households in high-risk areas.

Jun Yu, Regional Officer of Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific Member Services and Development Department of WMO, pointed out that the Asia-Pacific region has accounted for one-third of global disasters over the past 50 years.

"This region faces some of the most sophisticated weather systems, along with complex cultural and economic factors," Yu said. He emphasized that countries with lower capacities, particularly those vulnerable to typhoons, floods, and droughts, often require external support to enhance their disaster resilience.

Yu emphasized that all global designs require real actions supported by governments and mutual cooperation. "The most impressive aspect of Chongqing's system is the close relationship between the government and various agencies. " 

Yu also noted that as China continues to develop its capabilities, it is eager to share its technologies and expertise with other countries. "We need to understand and respect each other's concerns and limitations," Yu said. "I recommend that these expert teams take the time to understand local conditions and work to meet the specific needs of each country."

(Huan Ran, as an intern, also contributed to the report)