As the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) marks its 75th year in 2025, its leaders are calling for urgent and sustained financial support to keep vital weather and climate services running amid growing global risks. In its latest bulletin released during the Executive Council meeting, the organization highlights that without stronger funding, its life-saving forecasts and early warning systems could falter just when the world needs them most.
WMO plays a key role in global safety, helping countries prepare for storms, floods, droughts, and extreme temperatures. Its efforts underpin climate action plans, emergency responses, and disaster risk reduction in many countries. Yet, despite rising threats from climate change, the organization faces a widening funding gap that could undermine its ability to provide reliable data and timely alerts to millions worldwide.
The WMO’s 2024–2027 strategy sets out bold plans to expand early warning systems, improve coordination among countries, and strengthen national weather and water services. However, these goals require significant investment and partnership from both governments and the private sector a support that is currently falling short.
The WMO’s history is a testament to international cooperation. Over decades, it has built the world’s largest network of observation tools satellites, marine buoys, aircraft sensors, and land stations that power everything from mobile weather apps to disaster warnings. This vast system benefits billions of people daily, ensuring that timely climate and weather information reaches them, whether at sea, in cities, or on farms.
However, maintaining this system is costly. Without regular upgrades and coordination, early warning services could weaken, leaving vulnerable regions without critical alerts in times of danger.
Regional voices featured in the WMO Bulletin also stress the importance of this global network. Leaders from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Europe all point to how shared knowledge and technology are improving local disaster readiness. These stories show that global cooperation directly boosts the resilience of communities by helping them prepare for and respond to climate shocks.
Research remains a driving force behind WMO’s success. Programmes like the Global Atmosphere Watch and the World Climate Research Programme have transformed how countries predict weather and understand climate change. These efforts also help nations meet international goals like the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
But the road ahead is challenging. As climate disasters become more frequent and intense, the demand for better forecasts, longer-range predictions, and tailored local warnings will only grow. WMO’s leadership warns that without fresh investment and wider partnerships including with private companies and new technologies these critical services could be compromised.
The message from WMO’s 75th anniversary is clear: climate safety is a global responsibility. Keeping this system strong requires shared effort, vision, and above all, the financial resources to match the rising risks of a changing world.