A Call to Action: Building a Weather-Ready and Climate-Resilient Southeast Asia

The Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) - WMO Regional Forum, held from 4 to 6 September in Singapore, underscored the urgent need for climate action in the region. The event focused on climate change adaptation measures and on building resilience to the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate that it has brought on by scaling up efforts such as the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) and the call for Early Warnings for All.

In recent years, Southeast Asia has faced record-breaking weather extremes and other natural hazards that have resulted in the loss of many lives and significant economic damage. Heatwaves, tropical cyclones and floods have intensified due to global warming. The inaugural ASMC – WMO Regional Forum aimed to address these issues by realizing a “weather-ready and climate-resilient” ASEAN. Over the three days, the Singapore Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Singapore, Ms Grace Fu, the WMO Secretary-General Prof. Celeste Saulo and some 250 regional stakeholders discussed and strategized on how climate services can better support adaptation needs and how to scale up early warning systems.

“From food security to heat resilience, climate services provide critical information that help build the region’s resilience to climate change”, stated Ms Fu. She went on to announce the official designation of Singapore as a WMO Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for Vegetation Fire and Smoke Pollution forecasts (RSMC–VFSP).

“This Forum is a springboard for action”, said the WMO Secretary-General. “We hope it empowers you to translate these discussions into concrete outcomes, building tangible steps toward a more climate-resilient and weather-ready future for your countries and the ASEAN region.”

The Forum’s diverse stakeholders – experts from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and climate-sensitive sectors, such as health, agriculture and urban planning – shared insights and collaborated on inclusive strategies to enhance climate and disaster resilience. Such collective efforts are vital for the success of the call for Early Warnings for All, which the Forum aimed to scale up in Southeast Asian countries, and other initiatives. Several countries highlighted their efforts and progress with strengthening early warning systems. Financial and technical partners outlined some of the support available to them. Discussions among stakeholders revealed challenges and potential solutions, including a regional road map for implementing the call for Early Warnings for All in Southeast Asia.

The Forum also aimed to leverage the latest climate science to enhance understanding of the current and expected physical impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia and to promote awareness of available climate information and services. Thus, it offered a deep-dive into the recently published WMO State of the Climate in Asia 2023 and State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2023, showcasing collaboration in the region.

The ASMC – WMO Regional Forum set the stage for a more resilient future. However, the journey towards a weather-ready and climate-resilient ASEAN is far from over. Continuous efforts, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment are vital to tackling the challenges posed by climate change. The Director of the WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific, Mr Ben Churchill, recommended ASEAN to “share information, experience and data to build a true understanding of capacity needs” and to “explore the possibility of scaling up efforts through the ASEAN Secretariat frameworks and processes to share resources and take a regional approach” as a means to deliver concrete action. A collective approach would enrich the conversation and providing a comprehensive understanding of ongoing efforts and future directions in climate action and disaster risk reduction.