Hydromet Gap Report launch: collaboration needed to ensure Early Warnings for All

Gaps in Hydromet services affect SDG implementation

As the Hydromet Gap Report 2024 shows, hydrometeorological services present an under-recognized and cost-effective opportunity to turn commitments into actions and accelerate delivery across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ability to predict and prepare for changes in weather and climate allows societies to improve resilience and economic prosperity. Improved forecasts of extreme events, accompanied by the effective dissemination of information and appropriate response measures, can save lives and substantially reduce economic losses, both major goals of the Early Warnings for All Initiative. 

The Hydromet Gap Report 2024 identifies a number of deficiencies that prevent the effective provision of high-quality weather, climate, hydrological, and related environmental services:

• Weak observational infrastructure. All of the assessed National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) face gaps in coverage, with a large portion of inoperable stations, difficulties in maintenance, particularly of automatic weather stations, and frequent data quality issues. 
• Not collecting and sharing enough basic weather and climate data. The general trend is positive, but there are still large data gaps (GBON compliance), especially over Africa and the Pacific islands. Lack of training, technical resources and internet connectivity limit services quality and development. SOFF as a United Nations specialized climate fund has been created to tackle this issue.
• Low data quality, availability and sharing. Data transmission represents a significant challenge. The majority of the 20 NMHS assessed do not have a centralized, automated data management system. Behind this gap stands a general lack of enabling information and communication technologies infrastructure.
• Under-resourced and under-staffed NMHS. Not enough qualified personnel as well as financial resources exacerbate the gap.
• Inadequate early warning systems and no impact-based forecasting. None of the NMHSs assessed fully implement impact-based forecasting. Other prevalent shortcomings involve the lack of standard alerting procedures, unavailability of alert services 24/7 and lack of integrated multi-hazard early warning systems. Impact-based forecasting provides the information needed to act before disasters to minimise the socio-economic costs of weather and climate hazards.

Supporting countries in closing the identified gaps are crucial to improve early warning systems, getting closer to achieving the UN Secretary-General’s and WMO’s priority of Early Warnings for All by 2027.

Recommendations

“The publication, which provides an accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive assessment of the state of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, identifies urgent climate-focused investments required by developing countries most affected by extreme weather patterns,” says Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group.

The Hydromet Gap Report identified the need for coordinated support from both government and development partners to:

• Implement sustainable, context-responsive and cost-effective solutions, processes, and frameworks, including closing the information and communication technology gap
• Promote the promulgation of appropriate legislation and build governance mechanisms for hydrometeorological and other MHEWS-relevant services
• Foster close cross-sectoral and regional relationships among national stakeholders and service users
• Build in-house expertise to produce tailored services, including through in-situ trainings
• Support regional technical cooperation frameworks

In response to these findings and policy recommendations, the Alliance for Hydromet Development has outlined a set of priority actions, including the expansion of SOFF to other parts of the hydrometeorological value chain in support of the Early Warnings for All Initiative.