Environment and ecology
WHO Launches Science and Policy Summaries (SPS) on Air Pollution and Health
▪ WHO launched a new series of Science and Policy Summaries (SPS) to tackle the global health impacts of air pollution and its significant health impacts, especially in low- and middleincome countries.
▪ Released after the Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health (March 2025, Cartagena, Colombia).
Global Concern
▪ Air pollution is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases.
▪ In 2021, around 6.4 million deaths were linked to particulate matter exposure.
▪ 93% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
Legal Framework for Meteorological Services – IMD
▪ The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has constituted the committee to formulate a legal
framework for meteorological services in India.
▪ Focus Areas:
✓ Defining the roles, responsibilities, and structure of agencies like the India Meteorological
Department (IMD).
✓ Addressing legal gaps in meteorological governance.
▪ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) mandates all member countries to enact
legislation or policies for hydro-meteorological services.
About India Meteorological Department (IMD)
▪ Established: In 1875, the IMD is the National Meteorological Service of India.
▪ Ministry: operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
▪ Headquarter: New Delhi. IMD has 6 Regional Meteorological Centres: Mumbai, Chennai,
New Delhi, Calcutta, Nagpur and Guwahati.
▪ IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World
Meteorological Organisation.
▪ However, no law currently governs its structure or responsibilities.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
▪ It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded
in 1873.
▪ Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
▪ Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland.
