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Antonio Guterres calls for rapid acceleration of the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, framing the World Meteorological Organization as a vital “barometer of truth” in a climate-disrupted world.
The realities of climate change, though highly contested, with corporate chiefs and institutions rejecting its urgency, who speak in seeking a balance or inclusion, yet the most vulnerable are critically affected by climate shocks.
No nation is immune to the escalating devastation of extreme weather, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared during the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Congress.
In a historic first address to the body, he issued a powerful call for a global surge in early warning systems to protect lives and economies.
Speaking at an event celebrating WMO’s 75th anniversary as a UN specialized agency, Mr. Guterres hailed the organization as “a barometer of truth,” a credible and clear-eyed source of data about the planet we share.
“Without your rigorous modeling and forecasting, we would not know what lies ahead, or how to prepare for it,” he told a packed conference chamber. “Without your long-term monitoring, we wouldn’t benefit from the warnings that protect communities and save millions of lives and billions of dollars each year.”
The Congress marks the halfway point for the Early Warnings for All Initiative, launched by Mr. Guterres in 2022 to cover everyone on Earth by the end of 2027.
Echoing the Secretary-General’s urgency, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo issued a compelling Call to Action to accelerate progress. “We gather at a time when our mission has never been more critical,” Professor Saulo stated.
“This is not only a moment of challenge, it is a profound opportunity to harness climate intelligence and technology to build a more resilient future. We must scale up multi-hazard early warnings, empower National Meteorological Services, expand observing networks, and broaden the tent to ensure we leave nobody behind,” said Saulo.
The need is stark. Over the past 50 years, weather, water, and climate-related disasters have claimed over two million lives, with 90% of these deaths occurring in developing countries. The economic toll is soaring as weather extremes intensify.
Progress Made, Gaps Remain
Significant strides have been achieved. As of 2024, 108 countries report having some capacity for multi-hazard early warning systems, more than double the number in 2015.
However, the consequences of inaction are severe. Disaster mortality is six times higher, and the number of people affected is four times higher, in countries with limited early warning coverage.
To achieve the 2027 target, Mr. Guterres outlined three critical priorities:
- Integration: Governments must embed early-warning systems into all national policies, institutions, and budgets.
- Finance: A major surge in funding is required, including eased debt burdens for developing countries and reforms to the global financial architecture.
- Climate Action: Countries must present bold new national climate plans aligned with the 1.5°C temperature goal, including a full embrace of renewable energy.
WMO President Abdulla al Mandous welcomed Mr. Guterres, praising his leadership. “Thanks to your unwavering advocacy, early warnings are now recognized at the highest levels as cost-effective, life-saving solutions that advance sustainable development,” he said.
The high-level dialogue also featured presidents of WMO’s regional associations and top representatives from the initiative’s core partners: the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
