NDF and WMO showcase SOFF at UN Climate Conference

Weather and climate data are critical for making effective decisions and investments in all sectors. However, according to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today, less than 10% of required basic weather and climate observations are available from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. The recent IPCC reports also highlight the persistent limitations of information for a number of countries where significant data gaps remain.

The event presents a new financing mechanism which seeks to address the long-standing problem of missing weather and climate observations from Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States – the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF). By strengthening the underpinning data for weather forecasts and climate services, including early warnings, SOFF will improve the capacity of the most vulnerable countries to predict and adapt to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves.

During the event, the speakers will discuss the implications of the existing gaps, the socio-economic value of closing them and the challenges that developing countries have encountered so far. The event will also be an opportunity for new funders to make announcements of financial contributions to the SOFF UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

The event takes place in the Nordic Pavilion (P90) in the Blue Zone. You can also follow it live at Norden.org.

Agenda

Opening remarks

• Henrik Franklin, Director of Porfolio Management and Origination, Nordic Development Fund and SOFF Steering Committee co-chair

• Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization

• Selwin Hart, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition, who will speak about SOFF as a foundational element of the UN Early Warnings for All initiative.

Weather and climate data are economic data

• Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Managing Director

Importance of closing the basic weather and climate data gaps in developing countries

• Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP

• Florence Rabier, Director General, European Centre for Medium-range Weather forecasts

• Nitivololona Raholijao, Director-General, Meteo Madagascar

SOFF as an innovative approach to addressing long-standing problems in getting good weather/climate forecasts

• Usha Rao-Monari, UNDP Associate Administrator

• Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho, Secretary of State for the Environment (SSE), Timor Leste

How the private sector benefits from weather and climate data

• Lesley Ndlovu, CEO, Africa Risk Capacity

• Signing of SOFF joining the InsuResilience Global Partnership

• Jürgen Zattler, Director-General, Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, Germany

Growing commitment to fund an innovative financing facility – SOFF  

• Magnus Brunner, Minister of Finance, Austria

• Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development, Norway

• Simon Coveney, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense, Ireland

• Sigrid Kaag, Minister of Finance, Netherlands

• Monica Medina, State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affair

SOFF a foundational element of the UN Early Warnings for All

• Selwin Hart, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary- General on Climate Action and Just Transition