CREWS Allocates $77 Million for Early Warning Systems in Seven Vulnerable Countries

The Climate Risk and Early Warnings Initiative (CREWS) has approved $77 million in funding to implement life-saving early warning systems in seven vulnerable countries: Comoros, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nepal, Solomon Islands, and Tonga. This initiative aims to protect 61 million people from hazardous weather and climate events by 2027.

The funding will support the implementation of early warning systems in these countries, which are highly susceptible to natural disasters and climate-related hazards. The initiative is part of the Early Warnings for All – Executive Action Plan 2023-2027, which aims to ensure that every person on the planet is protected by early warning systems against hazards by 2027.

This significant investment will help save lives, reduce economic losses, and enhance the resilience of communities in these vulnerable countries. The CREWS initiative is a critical step towards achieving the goal of universal access to early warning systems, and this funding approval marks a significant milestone in this effort.

The 18-month Early Warnings for All Accelerator for LDCs and SIDS Project will strengthen the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in these countries, bridging the early warning capacity gap in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The project will be jointly implemented by the four Early Warnings for All pillar leads: the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHHSs) in each country will also be involved.

This CREWS Board decision will accelerate positive impact by working with seven countries most at risk of climate change impacts and with our new partners ITU and IFRC in order to reach over 61 million people. A people-centred and multi-stakeholder approach to building accurate and timely multi-hazard early warning systems is core to the value of CREWS and the effectiveness of our financing, said Gerard Howe, CREWS Chair and Head of the Adaptation, Nature & Resilience department of the UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The project will address gaps along the MHEWS value chain, identifying existing capabilities and strengthening early warning systems to save lives and reduce the impact of climate-related disasters. This initiative is crucial as 79% of disasters worldwide between 1970 and 2019 involved weather, water, and climate-related hazards, accounting for 56% of deaths and 75% of reported economic losses associated with natural hazard events.

The intensity and frequency of climate-related disasters are projected to increase as climate change intensifies, posing a significant risk to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and overall Sustainable Development. Climate information and early warning systems (CIEWS) are vital in reducing exposure and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and building climate change resilience.

The CREWS initiative's $77 million funding approval is a significant step towards ensuring that vulnerable populations in Comoros, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nepal, Solomon Islands, and Tonga are better prepared for hazardous weather and climate events by 2027.

Key Takeaways

• CREWS initiative approves $77 million in funding for early warning systems in 7 vulnerable countries.
• The funding aims to protect 61 million people from hazardous weather and climate events by 2027.
• The initiative will strengthen early warning systems in Comoros, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nepal, Solomon Islands, and Tonga.
• The project will address gaps in Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) to save lives and reduce economic losses.
• The initiative is part of the Early Warnings for All – Executive Action Plan 2023-2027 to ensure universal access to early warning systems.