COP 28 Resolution 39/57: In terms of progress on adaptation and resilience action, under the Early Warning for All initiative – an initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) at COP 27, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Meteorological Organization published its progress report which finds that Africa has doubled the quality of early warning systems coverage but still falls below the global average.
Resolution point 39 from the UAE Global Climate Action at COP 28 in 2023 highlights progress on adaptation and resilience action, specifically focusing on the Early Warning for All initiative. This initiative, launched by the UN Secretary-General at COP 27, aims to enhance early warning systems for disaster risk reduction. The progress report published by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Meteorological Organization indicates that Africa has doubled the quality of early warning systems coverage, although it still falls below the global average.
Positive Side:
Enhanced Early Warning Systems: The progress report indicates that Africa has made significant progress in doubling the quality of early warning systems coverage. This improvement suggests that efforts under the Early Warning for All initiative are contributing to strengthening early warning systems in the region, which are crucial for reducing disaster risks and enhancing resilience.
Global Collaboration: The Early Warning for All initiative, launched by the UN Secretary-General, signifies global collaboration and commitment to addressing disaster risk reduction. The involvement of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Meteorological Organization in publishing the progress report reflects multi-stakeholder engagement and coordination in advancing early warning systems worldwide.
Awareness and Capacity Building: The initiative’s focus on early warning systems underscores the importance of increasing awareness and building capacity for disaster risk reduction. By investing in early warning infrastructure and technology, countries can better prepare and respond to climate-related disasters, ultimately enhancing resilience and reducing the impact on vulnerable communities.
Negative Side:
Regional Disparities: Despite progress in doubling the quality of early warning systems coverage in Africa, the region still falls below the global average. This highlights existing disparities in early warning system capabilities between regions, indicating the need for targeted support and investment to bridge the gap and ensure equitable access to effective early warning systems.
Resource Constraints: Achieving comprehensive and high-quality early warning systems requires substantial financial and technical resources. The progress report may underscore challenges related to resource constraints, particularly in low-income countries, which may hinder efforts to further improve early warning systems coverage and quality.
Vulnerability to Climate Risks: The report’s findings suggest that Africa’s early warning systems are still below the global average, indicating vulnerabilities to climate-related risks and disasters in the region. Addressing these vulnerabilities requires not only enhancing early warning systems but also implementing comprehensive adaptation and resilience measures to reduce risks and build resilience in the face of climate change.
In conclusion, while Resolution point 39 highlights progress in enhancing early warning systems under the Early Warning for All initiative, it also underscores challenges related to regional disparities, resource constraints, and vulnerability to climate risks. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for effectively strengthening early warning systems and enhancing resilience to climate-related disasters.
