GENEVA, October 23, 2025: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that no country is immune from the worsening impacts of extreme weather events, underscoring that expanding access to early-warning systems is critical to saving lives and protecting livelihoods. Speaking at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) headquarters in Geneva, Guterres urged governments to accelerate efforts to establish universal early-warning systems, highlighting that countries with strong forecasting and alert mechanisms record far lower disaster-related mortality.
According to the UN chief, disaster deaths are at least six times lower in nations equipped with effective early-warning systems. He added that a 24-hour advance warning can reduce economic damage by up to 30 percent. The remarks came as the WMO marked its 75th anniversary and convened an extraordinary congress to assess progress on the “Early Warnings for All” initiative. Launched by Guterres in 2022, the global plan aims to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by an early-warning system by 2027.
More than half of all countries now report having some level of multi-hazard early-warning capacity, with notable advances in several least developed nations over the past three years. Despite these improvements, large gaps remain between developed and developing regions. A recent WMO analysis of 62 countries found that nearly half have only basic hazard monitoring and warning capabilities, while 16 percent have less than basic capacity.
Nations lacking comprehensive early-warning systems experience mortality rates six times higher and human impacts four times greater than those with robust mechanisms in place. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said that the accelerating impacts of climate change are compounding the challenges faced by communities, particularly in developing countries. She emphasized that stronger forecasting networks, real-time data sharing, and targeted community alerts are essential to reducing the toll of weather-related disasters.
UN chief calls for universal early warning coverage
Over the past 50 years, weather, water, and climate-related hazards have caused more than two million deaths globally, with developing countries accounting for about 90 percent of the total. Guterres called for a significant increase in financing to support early-warning infrastructure and climate adaptation in low-income economies. He noted that many developing countries are constrained by slow growth, high debt burdens, and limited fiscal space, making external support indispensable.
He appealed to developed countries to fulfill their commitment to double adaptation funding to $40 billion this year and to contribute substantially to the Loss and Damage Fund established under the UN climate framework. The Secretary-General also reaffirmed the urgency of addressing the root causes of climate change to prevent further escalation of global temperatures. He acknowledged that the world is on track to temporarily exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels, but reiterated that rapid, coordinated action is still vital to avoid further human and economic losses.
Delegates at the WMO’s Extraordinary Congress adopted a Call to Action urging member states to integrate early-warning systems into national policies, secure sustained financial resources, strengthen meteorological and hydrological services, and ensure that vulnerable and conflict-affected communities are not left behind. According to the WMO, each dollar invested in early-warning systems can save up to fifteen dollars in avoided disaster losses.
Early Warnings for All recognized as global priority
The congress also reviewed technological advances that could accelerate progress, including satellite-based monitoring, artificial intelligence-driven forecasting, and regional data-sharing networks. WMO officials emphasized that expanding access to accurate, timely, and actionable climate information remains one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce disaster impacts, safeguard development gains, and strengthen global resilience.
The event concluded with renewed pledges from member states and international partners to expand the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, recognizing it as a cornerstone of global disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies, reinforcing commitments to strengthen cross-border data sharing, regional cooperation, and sustained long-term investment in climate resilience. – By EuroWire News Desk.