Cape Town– In a major stride toward global disaster preparedness, G20 ministers have endorsed a declaration committing to people-centred, multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS). The statement, adopted during the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction under South Africa’s Presidency, coincided with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”
The declaration, welcomed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), calls for stronger investment, international cooperation, and the empowerment of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) as key players in issuing reliable forecasts. It stresses that early warning systems must be inclusive, accessible, and backed by sustainable funding to protect vulnerable communities.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo hailed the G20’s endorsement as a “turning point for resilience and sustainable development,” adding that early warnings are one of the most cost-effective tools for climate adaptation. According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), global disaster losses now cost nearly US$2.3 trillion annually a figure that highlights the growing urgency for preparedness.
At the heart of this global effort is the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, launched in 2022 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and jointly led by WMO, UNDRR, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The initiative aims to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by life-saving early warning systems by 2027.
South Africa emerged as a frontrunner during the G20 meeting, unveiling its national EW4All Roadmap the first among G20 nations. The roadmap integrates science, policy, and community partnerships to translate data into real-time action. WMO Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Asare praised South Africa’s leadership as “a model of governance, data sharing, and technical excellence.”
Examples from other nations also underscored the power of early warning systems. Ethiopia showcased its National Situation Room, which integrates meteorological, agricultural, health, and space data to issue real-time alerts and risk maps. These are translated into local languages and broadcast across rural areas, ensuring no community is left behind.
The G20 declaration also emphasized financing and innovation as essential pillars of resilience. The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), backed by WMO, UNDP, and UNEP, was highlighted for improving global climate data infrastructure. Meanwhile, ITU-led projects are harnessing artificial intelligence and satellite connectivity to deliver alerts to even the most remote communities.
Recognizing that technology must go hand in hand with trust, the IFRC shared insights from its Community Trust Index, which measures how people respond to early warnings. Findings from Mozambique and Nepal revealed that trust, clarity, and accessibility are vital to ensuring warnings prompt real action.
The G20’s unified stance represents a pivotal moment in global disaster risk governance. As nations prepare for the WMO Extraordinary Congress later this month, where commitments to the EW4All initiative will be renewed, the message from Cape Town is clear — early warning systems are not just a technological priority but a moral and strategic imperative to build a safer, more resilient world.