GENEVA, October 23, 2025: Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Director-General of the UAE National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), chaired the Extraordinary Session of the World Meteorological Congress held at WMO headquarters in Geneva. The high-level session gathered United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, WMO Regional Association presidents, and senior UN officials to address the acceleration of the “Early Warnings for All” initiative.
The meeting focused on strengthening coordination across the UN system to ensure that every person on the planet is protected by early-warning systems by 2027. The initiative aims to provide universal coverage for weather and climate-related hazards, reinforcing global resilience amid increasing risks from severe weather events. In his opening remarks, Dr. Al Mandous said the session marked a defining milestone in advancing the global early-warning agenda, first championed by the UN Secretary-General.
He noted that the initiative has elevated early warnings to a top global priority, uniting countries in their commitment to building systems that protect communities and economies from the impacts of extreme weather. Dr. Al Mandous reaffirmed that the WMO and its members remain committed to the Early Warnings for All vision, describing it as a cornerstone of global climate resilience and an essential pillar for sustainable development. He called for deeper institutional collaboration across the United Nations, emphasizing the need to move from ad hoc cooperation to strategic alignment.
He proposed that the WMO strengthen its engagement with the United Nations Economic and Social Council to better integrate weather, climate, and water programs into broader development frameworks. Dr. Al Mandous also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation with specialized UN agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, and the International Maritime Organization to harmonize global policies and operational frameworks supporting early-warning delivery.
WMO urges integration of meteorological data in policymaking
Dr. Al Mandous underscored the economic and humanitarian value of early-warning systems, citing data that every dollar invested in such infrastructure generates nine dollars in benefits through reduced losses and saved lives. He reaffirmed WMO’s guiding vision of “One Planet, One System, One Community,” noting that collaboration across nations and institutions remains vital to ensuring that timely and reliable weather, climate, and water information reaches every community.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in his keynote address, commended the WMO’s leadership and contribution to global climate monitoring and forecasting. He said the organization provides the foundation for informed climate decisions that help governments and communities prepare for natural disasters. Guterres emphasized that without the scientific precision and long-term monitoring provided by meteorological services, millions of lives and billions of dollars in assets would remain at risk each year.
The Secretary-General reiterated that the climate crisis continues to pose an existential threat to humanity and that strengthening early-warning infrastructure is among the most effective ways to reduce the toll of weather and climate disasters. He urged global institutions and member states to expand collaboration and financing to achieve universal early-warning coverage within the set timeframe.
WMO highlights benefits of early warning infrastructure
According to WMO data presented at the session, weather, water, and climate-related hazards have caused more than two million deaths over the past fifty years, with nearly 90 percent of these occurring in developing countries. The organization reported that more than half of all nations now have at least partial multi-hazard early-warning capabilities, but significant gaps persist in many vulnerable regions.
The Extraordinary Session of the World Meteorological Congress will conclude with the adoption of recommendations to enhance coordination among UN agencies, improve national meteorological capacity, and mobilize financial and technical resources. The meeting reaffirmed the global commitment to ensuring that early-warning systems reach every person on Earth by 2027, in alignment with the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative. – By EuroWire News Desk.