United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has urged governments and other stakeholders to harness technology to protect people from the impacts of climate change.

To achieve the goal, the United Nations launched the Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to ensure that every person on earth is protected by an early warning system by the end of 2027.

As part of efforts to achieve this target, governments were urged to make early warning systems a permanent public service by integrating them into development and adaptation plans, as well as government budgets.

The initiative also highlights the need to invest in the people and institutions responsible for operating the technology, including weather forecasters and first responders.

Mr Guterres appealed to international partners to provide affordable, predictable and sustained financing to address funding and capacity gaps, particularly in developing countries facing pressure from debt and borrowing costs.

He said funding must cover the entire early warning chain, from weather forecasting and communication tools to volunteers who go door-to-door to alert residents. 

He emphasised that resources must also be available to ensure the continued operation of these systems.

Mr Guterres noted that some European countries had more weather stations that meet global standards than the entire African continent, highlighting the need to improve monitoring capacity.

He also emphasised the need for stronger international cooperation to support country-led efforts and commended international partners involved in the initiative.

He advocated a shift from fragmented projects to coordinated, long-term support, urging countries to work together on country-led plans, strengthen national and regional institutions and build lasting capacity.

Developed and developing countries were also encouraged to contribute their expertise and funding to ensure that people who remain unprotected could benefit from early warning systems.

Mr Guterres described early warning systems as an investment in human security, peace and stability, warning that disasters countries fail to prepare for could become humanitarian, development and security crises.

He appealed to world leaders to ensure that every person on earth is protected by an early warning system by the end of 2027 and for systems to remain operational for generations.