Enhancing earth system observations, monitoring and forecasting for floods and droughts to ensure early warnings for all

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (

Intergovernmental organization

)

#SDGAction51213

Description

This initiative contributes to the pillar 2 of the Early Warnings for All Initiative initiated by UN Secretary-General in 2022, to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by 2027.
Over the past 20 years, approximately 75 % of all disasters were water related, causing huge social and economic damage of almost US$700 billion. One important preparedness measure for combating the water-related disasters is to have effective and tailored early warning systems at local and regional scale.
A WMO survey shows significant gaps in Multi Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) in many areas of the world with only half of WMO Members having an operational MHEWS in place. To develop an early warning system especially for flood and drought hazards, it is essential that reliable and temporally high resolved weather, climate, and water data are collected, analysed, and used by national and local actors for warning services as well as by global and regional centers like ECMWF for producing information. This information is crucial for a better understanding of the water-energy-food- ecosystem nexus (interdependent systems; SDG 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, 13, and 15). WMO plays an important role in fostering collaboration between the NHMS and advocates for free and unrestricted exchange of data and information under the new WMO Unified Data Policy. Furthermore, WMO and its Members and partners co-develop products and services to improve social, economic welfare and the protection of the environment.

WMO through its Technical Commissions, Research Board, Regional Associations and constituent/subsidiary bodies will:
1) Contribute to the development and implementation of global/regional/national/basin scale coordinated systems for acquiring, processing, transmitting, and disseminating meteorological, climatological and hydrological observations and standards related to floods and droughts; and
2) Support the development and implementation of user-focused spatio-temporal high-resolution modelling and forecasting tools and products based on principles of good practice and long-term sustainability.

Key activities include:
1) Enhancing capacity to understand hazards: Conduct gap analyses on early warning needs (national, regional) for different types of floods and droughts, and ensure timely access to, and use of satellite and surface observations (contributions and linkage with SOFF Initiative) and of advanced technologies to build up detection and forecasting capabilities;
2) Accelerate the implementation of the WMO Plan for Action for Hydrology, including the establishment of global, regional, national and basin wide hydrological status and outlook systems (HydroSOS) as well as the establishment of hydrological centres of the WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS);
3) Development of Regional/National/Global data and products for flood (urban/flash/riverine/other types) and drought modeling and forecasting systems (including cryosphere) through, for instance, the Flash Flood Guidance System with Global Coverage (FFGS/WGC) and other existing tools and with current progress made in the world weather and world climate research programs; and
4) Development of global, regional and national data and information visualization platforms for flood and drought early warning system including training to stakeholders by using best examples and methodologies of Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM), Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) etc.

Expected Impact

A key action for measuring impact will be to strengthen capacities of the NMHSs (for monitoring, forecasting and dissemination of early warning systems) and improve community preparedness and resilience to water risks (SDG 6, 13, 11, 16).
Socio-economic sectors related activities are dependent on weather and water information for climate adaptation and actions pertaining to disaster risk reduction actions. Improved production of, and access to climate, weather and water observations and forecasts will support stakeholders at various (global, regional, national and local) scales. It will help to make informed decisions on water resources management and the results will inform on impacts of possible disasters for population (SDG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 13), transport and industries (SDG 9), and the environment (SDG 14). This is also critical for effective climate action (SDG 15). It will also support the implementation of the SDGs and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction especially in the development of multi-hazard forecast and monitoring systems and foster international, regional and national cooperation and partnerships among countries (SDG 17).

Following the work under this initiative, NMHSs will support various agencies in the countries related to disaster management, environment, water resources, climate change, agriculture, irrigation, power and dam authorities etc. with hydrological and meteorological regularly updated status information (i.e., hourly, daily, weekly, monthly) and prediction of events in a timely manner. As monitoring of weather conditions and water flows require a transboundary/regional approach, this initiative will be instrumental in improving coordination and collaboration between NMHSs of countries.
Finally, the successful implementation of this initiative will also provide strategic and technical expertise to the humanitarian sector, International Organizations, NGOs etc. working on water, weather and climate change adaptation sectors. The forecasting and warning information will significantly contribute in reducing the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct socio-economic losses from the water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations (SDG 11.5).

Partners

• National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of 193 WMO Member States and Territories
• UN entities and international organizations: UNDRR, IFRC, ITU, UNDP, UNESCO, UNEP, UNECE, etc.
• Multilateral Financial Institutions: Adaptation Fund, World Bank Group, Green Climate Fund, Climate Risk and Early Warning System (CREWS), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), SOFF (UN Fund) etc.
• Hydrological and meteorological partners and research centers: NASA, ECMWF, JAXA, NOAA, SMHI, UNEP-DHI, JRC, Deltares, CIMA Research Foundation, HKV, HRC, and other private sector entities like DHI, Google, Microsoft etc.
Global data centers: Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC), International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN)

Additional information

EARLY WARNINGS FOR ALL: Executive Action Plan 2023... | E-Library (wmo.int)
WMO SERCOM https://public.wmo.int/en/governance-reform/services-commission
WMO INFCOM https://public.wmo.int/en/governance-reform/infrastructure-commission
WMO Plan of Action for Hydrology 2022-2030 https://www.hydroref.com/wmo/hcp/index.php
WMO Global Hydrological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS)
https://community.wmo.int/en/activity-areas/global-hydrological-status-…

Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM)
https://www.floodmanagement.info/

Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP)
https://www.droughtmanagement.info/
Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) with Global Coverage
https://community.wmo.int/en/hydrology-and-water-resources/flash-flood-…

SDGS & Targets

Goal 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

6.1

By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

6.1.1

Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

6.2

By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

6.2.1

Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water

6.3

By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

6.3.1

Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated

6.3.2

Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality

6.4

By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity

6.4.1

Change in water-use efficiency over time

6.4.2

Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources

6.5

By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

6.5.1

Degree of integrated water resources management

6.5.2

Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation

6.6

By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

6.6.1

Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time

6.a

By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies

6.a.1

Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan

6.b

Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

6.b.1

Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

Goal 11

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

11.1

By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums

11.1.1

Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing

11.2

By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons

11.2.1

Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

11.3

By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries

11.3.1

Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate

11.3.2

Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically

11.4

Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

11.4.1

Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)

11.5

By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations

11.5.1

Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

11.5.2

Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP)

11.5.3

(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters

11.6

By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

11.6.1

Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities

11.6.2

Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)

11.7

By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities

11.7.1

Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

11.7.2

Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months

11.a

Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning

11.a.1

Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space

11.b

By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels

11.b.1

Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

11.b.2

Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

11.c

Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials

Goal 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

13.1

Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

13.1.1

Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

13.1.2

Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

13.1.3

Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

13.2

Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

13.2.1

Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

13.2.2

Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

13.3

Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

13.3.1

Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

13.a

Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

13.a.1

Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025

13.b

Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities

13.b.1

Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Goal 16

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

16.1

Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

16.1.1

Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age

16.1.2

Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause

16.1.3

Proportion of population subjected to (a) physical violence, (b) psychological violence and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months

16.1.4

Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live after dark

16.2

End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

16.2.1

Proportion of children aged 1–17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month

16.2.2

Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation

16.2.3

Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18

16.3

Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

16.3.1

Proportion of victims of (a) physical, (b) psychological and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized conflict resolution mechanisms

16.3.2

Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population

16.3.3

Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism

16.4

By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime

16.4.1

Total value of inward and outward illicit financial flows (in current United States dollars)

16.4.2

Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments

16.5

Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms

16.5.1

Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous 12 months

16.5.2

Proportion of businesses that had at least one contact with a public official and that paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials during the previous 12 months

16.6

Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

16.6.1

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget, by sector (or by budget codes or similar)

16.6.2

Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services

16.7

Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels

16.7.1

Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the legislatures; (b) the public service; and (c) the judiciary, compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups

16.7.2

Proportion of population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group

16.8

Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance

16.8.1

Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations

16.9

By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration

16.9.1

Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age

16.10

Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

16.10.1

Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months

16.10.2

Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information

16.a

Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime

16.a.1

Existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles

16.b

Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development

16.b.1

Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law

False

Feedback

Action Network

Timeline

01 April 2023 (start date)

31 March 2028 (date of completion)

Entity

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

SDGs

6 11 13 16

Region

Global

Other beneficiaries

National Agencies (Disaster Management/Civil Protection, Water resources, Climate Change, Agriculture, Environment, Irrigation, Health, Energy, Local Authorities, etc.) and general public in the countries using the monitoring and forecasting information from the NMHSs , and other global/ regional or basin scale forecasting centers for early response action and early warning systems.
As a pilot phase of this commitment, WMO is partnering with UNDRR, SOFF and the Red Cross in developing end-to-end early warning systems focused on floods and droughts titled ‘Water at the heart of climate action’ which will be implemented in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda and which can be applied to other countries at a later stage. WMO will lead the Pillar 2 (earth system observations, monitoring and forecasting for floods and droughts) related outputs and ensure joint collaboration and coordination with Pillar 1 (led by UNDRR) and Pillar 3 (ITU) and 4 (Red Cross) activities.

More information

https://www.public.wmo.int

Countries

Ethiopia

South Sudan

Sudan

Uganda

Contact Information

Stefan , Director – Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere, WMO

suhlenbrook@wmo.int