In 2024, the average PM2.5 concentration in Guangdong stood at 20 micrograms per cubic meter, marking the fifth consecutive year it has fallen below the World Health Organization's interim target of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
This data was unveiled by the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Service on March 20 at its 2025 World Meteorological Day Theme Report Conference and the Release Event for the Top Ten Weather and Climate Events in Guangdong in 2024.
Photo: Qu Fengqiu from Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Service
In terms of hazy days, Guangdong experienced an average of 16.4 hazy days in 2024, 24.7 days fewer than the long-term average. The number of hazy days in Guangdong has remained low for the past five years, all below the levels recorded since haze statistics began in 1980, and has consistently stayed below 20 days for five consecutive years.
The theme of this year's World Meteorological Day is "Closing the Early Warning Gap for All." Global warming has led to an increasing number of extreme weather events, posing severe challenges to people's lives, property safety, and social and economic development. Especially in developing countries and regions, due to inadequate meteorological monitoring networks and limited channels for disseminating warning information, people still face significant risks when confronted with natural disasters.
Guangdong's meteorological departments have actively explored multi-hazard early warning mechanisms, especially a double response warning linkage mechanism. By establishing operational platforms, providing technical support, and conducting talent training, they have promoted the dissemination of China's early warning solutions globally.
Wu Hongyu, the chief decision-making meteorological service officer at the Guangdong Climate Center, reminded us that the frequent occurrence of extreme weather and climate events has become the new normal.
On the one hand, monitoring and warning systems should be strengthened. On the other hand, energy conservation, emission reduction, and green transformation should be promoted throughout society to build a multi-layered climate risk defense system.
The conference also introduced the basic situation of Guangdong's comprehensive early warning system. There are 102 emergency warning information centers at the provincial, city, and county levels, primarily responsible for issuing warnings for natural disasters, accidents and disasters, and public health events.
Over the past three years, provincial departments have jointly issued 168 warning information bulletins through the provincial warning center, sending 21.8 billion mobile phone text messages, continuously setting new highs and accounting for 51.3% of all public interest text messages sent in the province.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
