Let's safeguard humanity through science-based early warning systems
A high-level event at the Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress has given its ringing endorsement to an urgent Call to Action to fast-track universal coverage of life-saving early warnings against dangerous weather.
- WMO Secretary-General calls for accelerated implementation of Early Warnings For All
- Mozambique’s President and ministers champion the initiative
- Every dollar invested in early warnings can save up to 15 dollars in reduced disaster impacts
- Public safety and economic well-being are threatened by more extreme weather
- New WMO report shows advances and gaps in observations and forecasts
A packed conference chamber welcomed World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo’s Call to Action: Accelerating Implementation of Early Warnings for All — Safeguarding Humanity through Science-based Early Warning Systems.
“We hope this meeting in Geneva marks a turning point: a global commitment to ensure that every alert issued is an opportunity to save lives and build hope. May every alert issued be a renewed commitment to life, solidarity, and the future of humanity,” said his Excellency Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique.
Mozambique has cut the death toll and economic losses from tropical cyclones thanks to investment in better observing systems and communications to ensure that warnings reach people who need them.
“We have learned a fundamental lesson: a timely warning saves lives. When the alert comes in time, response is quicker, action is more effective, and the impact is smaller,” he said. Therefore, the Early Warnings for All initiative is, for Mozambique, both a national priority and an ethical cause.”
“The tools exist. The standards are in place. The data flows. What remains is the collective will to act at the speed and scale required. The Early Warnings for All initiative is more than a slogan, it is a promise of dignity, safety and prosperity. I call on all of us to unite to deliver Early Warnings for All, by All. The time is now,” said Celeste Saulo.
The Early Warnings for All initiative was launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022. It is spearheaded by WMO, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Mr Guterres will address the World Meteorological Congress on 22 October.
“His presence underscores the immense global significance of our mission, particularly as we cross the halfway mark since the announcement of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative,” said WMO President Abdulla Al Mandous.
Early Warnings for All aims to cover the entire value chain and systematically reducing disaster risk and saving lives through comprehensive early warning systems that detect hazards, assess risks, disseminate timely alerts, and enable effective community response actions.
Every dollar invested can yield up to fifteen dollars saved in reduced disaster impacts, according to the Call to Action. It says the foundations are clear: free and open data exchange, sustainable financing, adherence to international standards, and coordinated scientific cooperation.
The need is paramount. In the last 50 years, weather, water, and climate-related hazards have claimed over 2 million lives, with 90% of those deaths occurring in developing countries. Economic costs and impacts are spiralling as weather becomes more extreme.
Hazard Monitoring and Forecasting
Huge progress has been made. As of 2024, 108 countries report having some capacity for multi-hazard early warning systems, more than double the 52 countries in 2015, and this has increased further in 2025. Many countries have drawn up national roadmaps – bringing together all sectors of government and society – and are implementing programmes on the ground which make a real difference in saving lives.
But big gaps remain. Disaster mortality is six times higher and the number of people affected is four times higher in countries with limited multi-hazard early warning systems.
“We are aware that this is not a 100-meter sprint, but rather a marathon,” said Swiss Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. “At the same time, however, climate change is causing increasingly frequent and severe weather events every year, across all continents. It is therefore essential to run this marathon at the speed of a sprint,” she said. She reaffirmed Switzerland’s support to Early Warnings for All and to the WMO Coordination Mechanism which provides authoritative and timely meteorological information to humanitarian agencies.
A new report was launched at the Extraordinary Congress, Early Warnings for All in Focus: Hazard Monitoring and Forecasting - the “pillar” which is under WMO’s responsibility.
Sixty-two assessments of the hydrometeorological value chain revealed that half of countries possess only basic capacity; and 16% have less-than-basic capacity. The situation is worst in fragile, conflict and violence-affected contexts.
Celeste Saulo’s Call to Action sets out the following priorities:
- Strengthen national ownership by embedding multi-hazard early warning systems into long-term national strategies, supported by increased and sustained financing mechanisms.
- Safeguard trust in warnings by empowering National Meteorological and Hydrological Services as the authoritative voice through fit-for-purpose legislation and effective communication to counter misinformation.
- Support clear, consistent, and accessible information, including traditional and indigenous knowledge to reach all communities.
- Ensure coordinated support by aligning international and national efforts around EW4All to deliver comprehensive advances through regional cooperation and peer-to-peer networks.
- Champion open, free and unrestricted data sharing as a global public good to strengthen forecasting and early warning, through universal implementation of the WMO Unified Data Policy, WMO Information System 2.0 and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), while closing the digital divide with sustained ICT investments.
- Expand and modernize observational networks through accelerated implementation of the Global Basic Observing Network with sustained investment in institutional, technical and operational capacity.
- Harness innovation responsibly by expanding AI applications within WMO systems while ensuring accessibility and standardization.
- Scale impact-based forecasting and warning services and ensure comprehensive access to impact, exposure, and vulnerability data.
- Address persistent vulnerabilities through predictable resources, strong governance, and sustained international solidarity to build a future where multi-hazard early warning systems are universal, reliable, and actionable, ensuring that communities worldwide are better protected and more resilient in the face of growing weather, water, and climate extremes.
The high-level event took place on the opening morning of the four-day Extraordinary Congress, which also celebrates WMO’s 75th anniversary as the UN specialized agency for weather, climate and water.
In a bilateral meeting, Celeste Saulo presented a certificate of recognition to President Chapo for his “exemplary leadership, political support and steadfast commitment to advancing disaster risk reduction as a national priority, including the strengthening of multi-hazard early warning systems to safeguard lives and livelihoods.”
Notes to Editors
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in atmospheric science and meteorology.
WMO monitors weather, climate, and water resources and provides support to its Members in forecasting and disaster mitigation. The organization is committed to advancing scientific knowledge and improving public safety and well-being through its work.
For further information, please contact:
- Clare Nullis WMO media officer cnullis@wmo.int +41 79 709 13 97
- WMO Strategic Communication Office Media Contact media@wmo.int