ECMWF and SOFF at COP28, 4 Dec, 17.30 – Innovative finance, better weather forecasts, effective climate action
The event will focus on the importance of closing the basic observations gap in developing countries for better forecasts and predictions. We will discuss how accurate weather forecasts feed into protection of life and property and better decisions including adaptation to climate change.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an intergovernmental organisation producing highly accurate numerical weather predictions from days to months ahead. The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is a specialized UN fund to support countries in closing today’s basic weather and climate observation data gaps according to Global Basic Observing Network (GBON).
Date: 4 December 2023
Time: 17.30-18.30, followed by drinks reception (Dubai time, GMT+4)
Location: Benelux-EIB-Pavilion (B6, Building 74), Blue Zone, Dubai Exhibition Centre, Opportunity Petal
Watch online: YouTube Stream
Programme
| 17.30 | Opening Luc Jacobs, Director and Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Belgium Florence Rabier, Director-General, ECMWF Markus Repnik, Director, SOFF |
| 17.40 | Panel: Innovative Finance for better forecasts Moderation: Markus Repnik, Director, SOFF Ladislaus Chang’a, IPCC Vice-Chair – Insights from IPCC and perspective from Tanzania Nathalie Flores, SBSTA Vice-Chair, UNFCCC – Systematic Observation in the UNFCCC process Srilata Kammila, Head of Climate Change Adaptation, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Journey of inventing and developing SOFF, SOFF co-founder perspective Karin Isaksson, Managing Director, Nordic Development Fund (NDF) – Why innovation in finance and long-term grant-based approach are needed, SOFF Steering Committee co-chair perspective |
| 18.00 | Panel: From better forecasts to better climate action Moderation: Florence Rabier, Director-General, ECMWF Daniel Gellens, Director-General Royal Meteorological Institute and President of the ECMWF Council (remote) – ECMWF announcement, high-resolution forecast support for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States Nirivololona Raholijao, Director-General, Meteo Madagascar – How better data helps Least Developed Countries, perspective from Madagascar Juan Lavista Ferres, Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab, Microsoft – Big tech support for a public good, how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning help the cause Carla Montesi, Director, European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships – Role of the EU for enhancing the capacity to produce and deliver information and services for early warning systems |
| 18.25 | Closing Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization |
| 18.30 | Drinks Reception |
