The African Union has called on African countries to step up access to global climate data, warning that timely use of weather prediction systems is critical for effective early warning and disaster preparedness.
The appeal was made on Monday at a joint forum of the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) and the Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) programmes in Namibian capital Windhoek.
Addressing the forum, AU Commissioner for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati warned that Africa’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather demands immediate investment in climate services to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
He explained that the Global Universal Access System would grant African farmers, meteorological agencies, scientists and policy makers seamless access to data generated by international weather forecasting and observation centres.
“We are working through various organisations to enhance efforts to enable countries to directly access early warning systems so that they are better prepared for climate shocks. This means enhancing the ability to utilise climate data,” Vilakati told journalists in Windhoek.
Africa’s top policymakers, alongside representatives of the European Union, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States are attending a meeting to discuss steps to improve access to climate services.
“If a universal access to climate information be implemented, it would mean that African climate prediction centres, communities and other users receive information in a timely manner to enable them to effectively utilise it,” the AU commissioner said.
The data, he added, could be sourced from a range of national, regional and multilateral agencies dedicated to collecting and analysing weather information.
The organisations must not only release the data promptly but also ensure it is delivered in accessible formats and multiple languages, enabling communities to fully understand and act on the information.
In Namibia, for instance, timely access to climate information has significantly strengthened the country’s ability to anticipate and manage extreme weather events, including floods.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Namibia’s Transport Minister Veikkoh Nekundi, Deputy Executive Director Sheelongo Jonas stressed the urgent need for African nations to adopt “better and targeted strategies” to shield themselves from the escalating impacts of the climate crisis.
“Africa stands at the frontline of the climate crisis, but it also stands at the forefront of opportunity. Therefore, the theme of this event ‘Accelerating Access to Climate and Weather Services for Resilient African Economies and Communities,’ is not just a call to action; it is a continental imperative,” Jonas said.
He noted that expanding access to weather data is key to reinforcing national meteorological and hydrological systems – enabling the modernisation of observation networks, enhancing early warning capabilities and boosting technical capacity from regional hubs to the most remote communities.
MG/jn/APA