Opening Remarks at the International Conference for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Minister Sakiasi Ditoka, Excellencies, Colleagues, and Friends,

I am honored to join today an exceptional panel of leaders and experts whose experience spans climate, resilience, and international cooperation.

Allow me to warmly acknowledge the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and Mr. Ajay Lavakare, our moderator today.

Thank you for inviting me to join this important discussion on how data and technology can drive adaptive action, especially for the most vulnerable.

WMO is a scientific and technical organization and for the entire 75 years of our existence, we have promoted free data exchange. 
We know that actionable data transforms lives and saves lives.

The world just had the ten hottest years on record. And a recent WMO report predicts that this trend will continue. 

What does this mean in practical terms?

It means that our ocean will become warmer and acidic, harming ecosystems and marine economies.

It means that glaciers will continue to melt, accelerating sea-level rise and coastal hazards.

It means that our weather will become more extreme. More intense heat, longer-lasting droughts. More violent tropical cyclones. 

Climate adaptation is not an option. It is a MUST. 

So how can WMO help?

Firstly - Early warnings are an essential part of adaptive action. They save lives and protect economies. WMO’s top priority is the UN Secretary-General's Early Warnings for All initiative. Currently only 108 countries have adequate early warning systems. We need to strengthen National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to change this.

Secondly - WMO is pioneering improvements in coastal inundation forecasting to help Small Island Developing States scale up warnings.

Thirdly - WMO’s Marine Emergency Response (MER) initiative helps Member States embed standardized, science-based protocols into national emergency frameworks. This ranges from search and rescue operations to chemical spills and coastal storm impacts. This is especially critical for ports and coastal infrastructure, which are lifelines for many economies and communities. 

Fourthly - We are engaging with the WMO community and the private sector on AI which has big potential benefits for weather forecasts, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

We are excited at the potential but want to ensure that nobody is left behind. 

In conclusion

To build resilient infrastructure, we must invest in open data, shared technology, and local capacity. 

We need to embrace national meteorological and hydrological services, decision-makers, the private sector, and civil society. We need trust. 

Let’s ensure that every early warning leads to an early action. 

Let’s use data and technology to make the difference between disaster and resilience.

Thank you.