An estimated 111 million people are better protected against climate-related risks thanks to the early warning systems implemented in 2022 by the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative.
An additional 282 million people in less developed countries and small island developing states are expected to be covered by improved weather and climate services in the coming years, according to the 2022 CREWS Annual Report.
The annual report, titled “Delivering Early Warning for Everyone,” explains how the initiative helps save lives, livelihoods, and property in the world’s most vulnerable countries by building resilience against risks such as droughts, floods, sand and dust storms, and coastal flooding.
CREWS plays a key role in the international “Early Warnings for All” initiative promoted by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which aims to ensure that the entire world is covered by an early warning system by 2027.
“The CREWS initiative is critical to the success of the Early Warnings for All initiative because it embodies a people-centered approach that prioritizes community engagement and helps transform and improve weather and warning services, human capacity, and last-mile action.” “The WMO is committed to increasing climate resilience and adaptation through CREWS and to improving basic weather and climate information globally through the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF),” said Prof. Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, which is an implementing partner of CREWS.
Early warning systems are a proven way to protect lives and livelihoods from climate-related risks, which account for 90% of extreme events and are on the rise as a direct result of climate change.
“CREWS’ work with least developed countries and SIDS to build more inclusive, multi-hazard early warning systems has never been more valuable in light of the goal set by EW4All,” said Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR, one of CREWS’ implementing partners.
People-centered
Since its establishment in 2015, the CREWS Trust Fund has received $105.6 million for tailored projects at the national level. People are at the heart of its work, engaging local communities and organizations to collaboratively identify the right early-warning solutions and build resilience.
Since 2021, contributions to the CREWS Trust Fund have increased by 36%. An additional $155 million is needed to meet the demand for operational support through 2025.
“Our role is clear as an operational fund that supports initiatives across every aspect of effective early warning systems and services. Our funding model—which focuses on investing where early warning is most needed—and our commitment to partnering to deliver early warning solutions for—and with—people, communities, and countries, represent a unique and powerful offering,” wrote Gerhard Howe, Chair of the CREWS Steering Committee and Head of the Adaptation, Nature, and Resilience Department at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, in the foreword.
Most CREWS projects are in Africa. In 2022, the expansion of sand and dust forecasts to six additional countries will enable another 90 million people to reduce their risk. Fifteen countries in Central and West Africa now have better access to standardized early warning information thanks to improvements in cellular technology and warning practices. Many African national institutions and communities are adopting and leveraging CREWS’ investments.
The risk is further exacerbated by other factors, such as inequality and conflict. Twenty-three of the countries supported by CREWS are affected by conflict or fragility, including Haiti, which is one of the 30 countries identified to begin receiving assistance under the EW4All initiative. In the Pacific—an area of focus for EW4All due to its exposure to some of the world’s most extreme weather events—an additional 1.05 million people are now protected—just under half of the region’s population.
Another of the 30 countries, Niger, has received assistance for flash flood preparedness covering 12 million people, while 9.5 million people in Papua New Guinea are now covered by drought advisory services, in anticipation of a stronger-than-usual El Niño season.
About CREWS
CREWS is a mechanism that provides funding to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for risk-informed early warning systems based on clear operational procedures.
It is implemented by three partners: the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GNDRR).
