The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has pleaded with the citizens to seriously conserve the environment in order to address the challenges of climate change that have severely affected the country.

The director of the department, Jolamu Nkhokwe, said this as the country joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Meteorological Day which falls on 23rd March every year.

This year’s day is being commemorated under the theme “Climate and Water”.

Nkhokwe said: “Malawi is not spared from the effects of climate change just like any other country globally, and this is evidenced by the droughts and floods that the country is experiencing every year and this year’s theme is very vital because the behavior of climate is causing the country either to receive more or less rainwater.”

Nkhokwe also expressed gratitude over the response from the Malawians saying it is encouraging to see that more people are now eager to get information which his department issues for precautionary measures on accidents that might occur due to change in climate.

“I have noted that these days when we delay in giving out information on weather, more people usually pressurize us through telephones and this is an indication that they are in dire need of weather information,” he said.

The day was set aside in commemoration the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 23rd March 1950.

This year is the 70th Word Meteorological Day since 1950.