Climate services for everyone

“Storms, floods and drought are becoming more and more frequent in Africa, causing huge problems for the continent. Africa is also more vulnerable to climate change than any other continent,” said Minister of International Development Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås. 

The Minister today launched a new programme designed to provide user-friendly information to the most vulnerable groups in Africa. 

“Changes in the climate may have disastrous consequences for farmers and fishermen whose livelihoods depend on the weather. So it is all the more important that they have rapid access to up-to-date weather information,” said Mr Holmås. 

Some NOK 60 million in funding is to be provided over a period of three years. The funding will be allocated to relevant UN agencies, other organisations and the academic community, and will strengthen Norwegian efforts to support the development of global climate services, led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).   

“We are now taking a step further towards ensuring that information reaches those who need it, be they farmers in drought-affected areas, fishermen, the coastal population, health personnel, aid organisations or the authorities,” Mr Holmås said. 

For this reason Mr Holmås is urging UN agencies, the academic community, NGOs and the private sector to form partnerships and contribute to this important work. 

Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization Michel Jarraud is visiting Oslo to take part in a seminar entitled Let’s talk about the weather – and start preparing for changes! Mr Jarraud will present the status of the global climate and will take part in discussions on what we can do to meet climate challenges together with Mr Holmås, Anton Eliassen, Director General of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and Jan Egeland, Co-Chair of the High Level Taskforce on the Global Framework for Climate Services and Deputy Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.  

For more information about the seminar, click here. 

Press contact: Press Duty Officer, international development, mobile phone: + 47 913 95 000