Green Climate Fund and its partners launch the Alliance for Hydromet Development

Twelve international organisations providing assistance to developing countries came together at COP25 today to launch the Alliance for Hydromet Development. As a founding member, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) joined the Alliance to unite efforts to close the capacity gap on early warnings and climate information by 2030.

GCF and other members of the Alliance have committed collectively to ramp up action that strengthens the capacity of developing countries to deliver high-quality weather forecasts, early warning systems, water, hydrological and climate services. Known as “hydromet” services, these underpin resilient development by protecting lives, property and livelihoods.

In addition to GCF, the founding members of the Alliance for Hydromet Development are the Adaptation Fund, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Global Environment Facility, Islamic Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, World Food Programme and World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

"Building on the success of the Fund's recent replenishment, we are stepping up our efforts to match the urgency of the climate crisis, including by increasing the capacity of the most vulnerable countries and communities to cope, manage and respond to climate change," said Yannick Glemarec, GCF Executive Director. "Over 75% of all Nationally Determined Contributions highlight the need for enhanced climate information and early warning systems. In collaboration with our Alliance partners, GCF is committed to accelerating the implementation of innovative initiatives that will respond to this need, modernise hydromet services, and strengthen the resilience of millions of people across the globe."

According to WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas, "Ambitious climate action requires countries to be equipped with the most reliable warnings and best available climate information services. Many developing countries are facing capacity constraints to provide these services. The Alliance is the vehicle to collectively scale-up our support to the most vulnerable."

Members of the Alliance have committed to unite their efforts in four areas:

• Improve systematic observations for better data by strengthening country capacity for sustained operation of observational systems and seeking innovative ways to finance developing country observations
• Enhance support for better adaptation, mitigation and resilience by strengthening country capacity for science-based mitigation and adaptation planning
• Strengthen early warning systems for improved disaster risk management by developing multi-hazard national warning systems, comprising better risk information, forecasting capabilities, warning dissemination, and anticipatory response
• Boost investments for better effectiveness and sustainability by fostering programmatic approaches that go beyond individual projects, including systematically strengthening the World Meteorological Organization integrated global, regional and national operational hydromet system.