A high-level event at the Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress has given its ringing endorsement to an urgent Call to Action to fast-track universal coverage of life-saving early warnings against dangerous weather.
It adopted by acclamation World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo's Call to Action: Accelerating Implementation of Early Warnings for All - Safeguarding Humanity through Science-based Early Warning Systems .
"We hope this meeting in Geneva marks a turning point: a global commitment to ensure that every alert issued is an opportunity to save lives and build hope. May every alert issued be a renewed commitment to life, solidarity, and the future of humanity," said his Excellency Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique.
Mozambique has cut the death toll and economic losses from tropical cyclones thanks to investment in better observing systems and communications to ensure that warnings reach people who need them.
"We have learned a fundamental lesson: a timely warning saves lives. When the alert comes in time, response is quicker, action is more effective, and the impact is smaller," he said. Therefore, the Early Warnings for All initiative is, for Mozambique, both a national priority and an ethical cause."
"The tools exist. The standards are in place. The data flows. What remains is the collective will to act at the speed and scale required. The Early Warnings for All initiative is more than a slogan, it is a promise of dignity, safety and prosperity. I call on all of us to unite to deliver Early Warnings for All, by All. The time is now," said Celeste Saulo .
The Early Warnings for All initiative was launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022. It is spearheaded by WMO, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction ( UNDRR ), the International Telecommunications Union ( ITU ) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ( IFRC ).
Mr Guterres will address the World Meteorological Congress on 22 October.
"His presence underscores the immense global significance of our mission, particularly as we cross the halfway mark since the announcement of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative," said WMO President Abdulla Al Mandous.
Early Warnings for All aims to cover the entire value chain and systematically reducing disaster risk and saving lives through comprehensive early warning systems that detect hazards, assess risks, disseminate timely alerts, and enable effective community response actions.
Every dollar invested can yield up to fifteen dollars saved in reduced disaster impacts, according to the Call to Action. It says the foundations are clear: free and open data exchange, sustainable financing, adherence to international standards, and coordinated scientific cooperation.
The need is paramount. In the last 50 years, weather, water, and climate-related hazards have claimed over 2 million lives, with 90% of those deaths occurring in developing countries. Economic costs and impacts are spiralling as weather becomes more extreme.
