In Reykjavík, Iceland, the launch of the Hydromet Gap Report 2024 emphasized the critical need for global collaboration to enhance Early Warning Systems. The report, based on Country Hydromet Diagnostics (CHD) conducted in 20 Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, highlights gaps in their hydrometeorological capabilities that urgently require attention from governments and development partners.
These diagnostics, supported by the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), are facilitated by advanced national meteorological offices acting as peer advisors under SOFF funding. The Alliance for Hydromet Development, co-founded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), issued the report to address increasing impacts from weather, water, and climate-related extreme events in vulnerable regions.
According to H.E. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, many countries, including Cabo Verde, face significant challenges in delivering essential hydromet services crucial for economic prosperity and resilience. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of WMO, stressed the report’s importance in identifying where political support and focused efforts are most needed to address climate-related crises exacerbated by inequality.
The Hydromet Gap Report 2024 was unveiled during the 8th SOFF Steering Committee meeting, highlighting SOFF’s role in supporting countries with critical deficiencies in weather and climate observations.
