UNESCO recognised First “World Metrology Day” celebration on 20th May 2024

Partha Roy, Kolkata: First UNESCO recognised “World Metrology Day” celebration to be held on 20th May 2024 around the world. Theme of World Metrology Day 2024 : “We measure today for a sustainable tomorrow”.

The theme for World Metrology Day 2024 is Sustainability, chosen for its relevance to various measurement opportunities crucial for fostering a sustainable global economy and environment. Sustainability affects many different areas of metrology and is of vital importance for European strategies such as the European Green Deal and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This year marks the first year that World Metrology Day is recognised by UNESCO, further underlining the importance of metrology. World Metrology Day is an annual event during which the impact of measurement on our daily lives is celebrated around the world.

This date was selected in recognition of the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875, when formal international collaboration in metrology began. This year marks the 149th anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875. .Each year World Metrology Day is organised and celebrated jointly by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) with the participation of the national organisations responsible for metrology.

1875 Paris treaty on the Metre Convention provides the basis for a worldwide coherent measurement system that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and the protection of the global environment.

Martin Milton (Director of BIPM) and Anthony Donnellan (Director of OIML) comment on the importance of metrology for sustainability: ‘This year, the theme for World Metrology Day is sustainability. Accurate measurements are the basis of environmental research and policymaking because they enable us to understand and tackle complex environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource depletion. The theme of sustainability encourages us to explore how metrology contributes to improving our lives every day. For example, accurate and reliable measurements enable better monitoring of environmental parameters, better assessment of the impact of human activities, and the development of strategies that promote ecological balance. Metrology empowers us to make informed decisions, whether by quantifying carbon emissions, measuring waste, or monitoring natural habitats.’

The metric system which is now the universal standard for measurements was created over 200 years ago. The Metre Convention, an international treaty designed to ensure that everyone around the world used the same metric system to measure weight and length, in order to ensure fair trade. The Metre Convention has since been ratified by over 100 countries and economies. In November 2023, UNESCO’s governing bodies proclaimed that 20 May would henceforth be celebrated as World Metrology Day (42 C/Resolution 21). Celebrations of the Day each year are jointly supported by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and the International Organization of Legal Metrology.

Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. It allows us to set common standards for units and measuring instruments. Metrology has a wide range of applications, including navigation, construction, product development, environmental monitoring, medicine and food processing.

World Metrology Day promotes the benefits of measurement science to a global audience, emphasizing metrology’s value for quality of life and environmental preservation – a mission in harmony with UNESCO’s goal of building a better world through science and education. Ms. Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General said, “At UNESCO, the lead United Nations agency for science, metrology underpins all our work. From mapping the ocean floor to assessing the volume of glacier melt in the Andes and Central Asia – two flagship initiatives by UNESCO – we depend on measurements as powerful tools to drive scientific discovery, technological innovation and sustainable development.”