The Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All) epitomises the WMO’s mission, aiming for universal global coverage by multi-hazard early warning systems by 2027. Progress is evident: up from 52 countries in 2015, today 108 report enhanced capacity. Studies estimate early warning systems prevented asset losses of up to $500 billion between 1978 and 2018. Early warnings, issued within 24 hours of a hazard, can reduce damage from that event by 30%, highlighting the profound economic benefits of investing in these systems. Through strategic partnerships the WMO further extends its impact. With UNESCO, it monitors glacier retreat, directly linked to sea-level rise affecting over 900 million people. Collaborations with the Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Convention to Combat Desertification improve drought forecasting and water management. Joint initiatives with the World Health Organization enhance heat-health warning systems, protecting vulnerable populations and boosting air quality monitoring. With the International Renewable Energy Agency, the WMO optimises renewable energy integration through advanced forecasting. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Meteorological data and climate insights constitute strategic assets, directly influencing investment decisions, national security planning and economic growth. The WMO provides technical assistance in crafting science-informed nationally determined contributions. The Triple Dividend of Resilience framework, advocated by the WMO, clarifies the broad benefits of resilience investments, which include avoiding economic losses when hazards strike, stimulating economic activity thanks to reduced disaster risk even when
“Every economic sector and every country urgently requires reliable, precise and accessible weather forecasts. The reality is stark: one major cyclone, flood, wildfire or heatwave can erase years of socio-economic progress”
no hazard occurs and generating significant development co-benefits.
be based on open data exchange and international standards. Every economic sector and every country urgently requires reliable, precise and accessible weather forecasts. The reality is stark: one major cyclone, flood, wildfire or heatwave can erase years of socio-economic progress. Investments in national meteorological infrastructure and early warning systems yield immense economic returns, with benefit ratios often reaching as high as 1:9 or even higher in regions such as Africa. These cases highlight the substantial benefits these investments offer. The WMO calls on G7 members to consider these clear economic benefits and to invest strategically in climate resilience. The costs of action might appear high, yet the costs of inaction will inevitably be far greater. In celebrating its 75th anniversary under the banner of ‘Science for Action’, the WMO emphasises 2025 as the year we transform data into action, forecasts into foresight and science into sustained economic resilience. The World Meteorological Organization stands ready – with tools, expertise and a global network – to help countries navigate the uncertainties ahead. With G7 and G20 leadership, we can build economies that are not only more resilient and sustainable, but also smarter and safer, ensuring a stable and prosperous global future.
REAL WORLD BENEFITS In Norway, maritime weather forecasting has slashed fuel consumption by up to 10%,
yielding substantial economic and environmental returns. London’s economic vitality owes much to accurate forecasts underpinning the Thames Barrier, enabling significant real estate and infrastructure developments to be protected from flooding. Renewable energy sectors also greatly benefit from the WMO’s tailored climate forecasts, enhancing reliability and operational resilience. For instance, shifts from La Niña to El Niño conditions directly affect wind, solar and hydropower generation, highlighting how climate forecasts can improve energy supply reliability and infrastructure planning. Technological advances such as supercomputing, artificial intelligence and machine learning significantly improve forecast accuracy, especially in regions with dense observational networks. However, human expertise is still key within national meteorological and hydrological services. A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION As the world’s leading economies, the G7 has the leverage and the leadership to drive a smarter, science-based response to weather and climate risks. This must
With growth slowing and families struggling to make ends meet, it is an appalling injustice when money ends up in the hands of criminals – money that could be spent on much-needed global growth and development” // CELESTE SAULO Celeste Saulo took office as secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization on 1 January 2024. She previously served as director of Argentina’s National Meteorological Service since 2014 and was the first vice-president of the WMO. She has been a member of the WMO World Weather Research Programme Scientific Steering Committee since 2011 and has served on various WMO panels related to her field of knowledge. She is a professor in atmospheric sciences at the University of Buenos Aires and research scientist at Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.
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107 globalgovernanceproject.org
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