Tag: WMO

WMO: Invest in Resilience as Climate Risks Intensify

Stuart Mitchell

The WMO Weather, Climate and Water Intelligence Commons (“WMO Commons”) seeks to mobilize at least 100 million US dollars over 5 years to finance global weather, climate and water monitoring, prediction, and service delivery systems. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo presented the WMO Commons in a keynote speech to a high-level roundtable event with financial, business and government leaders during Climate Week Zurich. She made a compelling investment case for strengthening the weather forecasting and observing network to build resilience to growing climate risks and keep the world protected and prepared. According to Swiss Re,…

Read More

WMO: Prepare for El Niño

Stuart Mitchell

A new WMO El Niño/La Niña Update indicates an 80% likelihood of an El Niño event during June–August 2026. Probabilities for this to continue until at least November are near or above 90%. Although some uncertainty remains about El Niño peak strength and timing, most forecast models suggest it will be at least moderate – and possibly strong. WMO El Niño/Updates are the world’s most authoritative source of information for governments, humanitarian agencies and climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, health, energy and water management. They are based on a consensus of…

Read More

Earth’s climate swings increasingly out of balance

Stuart Mitchell

The Earth’s climate is more out of balance than at any time in observed history, as greenhouse gas concentrations drive continued warming of the atmosphere and ocean and melting of ice, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These rapid and large-scale changes have occurred within a few decades but will have harmful repercussions for hundreds – and potentially thousands – of years.   Key messages WMO State of Climate report confirms 2015-2025 hottest 11 years on record Earth’s energy imbalance is highest in sixty five-year record The ocean has…

Read More

Climate Variability Emerges as Both Risk and Opportunity for the Global Energy Transition

Stuart Mitchell

Climate variability and long-term climate change are increasingly shaping the performance and reliability of renewable energy systems worldwide, according to the WMO–IRENA 2024 Year in Review: Climate-driven Global Renewable Energy Resources and Energy Demand, released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report, in its third edition, finds that 2024—the warmest year on record, with global temperatures reaching around 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels—brought pronounced regional shifts in solar, wind and hydropower potential, alongside a 4% increase in climate-driven global energy demand compared with…

Read More

World’s first impact bond on weather and climate data opens for contributions

Stuart Mitchell

The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) has opened for contributions to raise USD 200 million towards a climate impact bond aimed at strengthening systematic observation of the planet and help close critical weather and climate data gaps. The Systematic Observation Impact Bond will be announced as part of the COP30 Action Agenda, supported by the Government of Brazil as COP30 Presidency. If backed, the bond would enable 30 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to meet the requirements of the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) —…

Read More