The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) has published its February 2013 edition of its bulletin, which focuses on harmful substances, hazardous waste, and ecosystem management.
The newsletter addresses the potential environmental damage caused by dust storms, stressing the need for putting in place effective early warning systems.
20 February 2013: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) has published the February 2013 issue of its bulletin, which focuses on harmful substances, hazardous waste, and ecosystem management. The newsletter addresses the potential environmental damage caused by dust storms, stressing the need to put in place effective early warning systems.
The bulletin highlights that dust storms cause substantial environmental damage, health issues, as well as climate variations. It also notes that drought brought on by climate change and human-caused land degradation could potentially intensify these events. It highlights that dust storms impact communications, daily activities, car and air traffic, and cause reduced visibility.
The bulletin calls for early warning of sand storms, underlining that such systems would not only communicate a severe event, but also its anticipated impact, cost and the overall level of uncertainty.
In conclusion, the bulletin stresses that as changes in land cover and the global climate continue to occur, the need for early warning systems for dust storms is essential to prevent and mitigate their impacts. [Publication: UNEP GEAS Newsletter February 2013] [UNEP GEAS Website]