SOFF at COP28, 9 Dec, 17.30 – Weather and climate data for resilience

To save lives and livelihoods as well as protect property across the whole globe, we must improve the availability of weather and climate observations from the most data sparse areas. These are vital for weather forecasts, early warning systems and climate information services. The lack of such observations limits countries’ capacity to adapt to climate change and build resilience.

Join this event by the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) bringing together global leaders and visionaries dedicated to closing the basic weather and climate observations data gap.

Date: 9 December 2023
Time: 17.30-18.30 (Dubai time, GMT+4), 14.30-15.30 CET (Geneva time)
Location: Benelux-EIB-Pavilion (B6, Building 74), Blue Zone, Dubai Exhibition Centre, Opportunity Petal
Watch online: YouTube Stream

Programme

• Facilitator: Maarten van Aalst, Director-General and Chief Science Officer, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Welcome and Setting the Scene

Setting the stage for better data for better early warning systems and climate action. A deep dive into the progress, achievements, and lessons learned since SOFF kickstarted operations.

• Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition
• Markus Repnik, Director, SOFF

SOFF Action

Hear firsthand how countries, peer advisors and implementing entities are operating together.

• Aderito Aramuge, Director-General, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, Mozambique
• Ishaam Abader, Chief Executive Officer, South African Weather Service
• Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (video message)

SOFF Support I

• Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Zakia Khattabi, Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal, Belgium
• Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
• Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland

SOFF Collaboration

Distinguished representatives of the global climate funds will share their perspectives on the power of collaboration and efficient partnership.

• Jennifer Topping, Managing Director, UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office
• Mikko Ollikainen, Head, Adaptation Fund
• Kouassi Emmanuel Kouadio, Climate Resilience Programs Lead, Climate Investment Fund (CIF)
• John Harding, Head of Secretariat, Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS)
• Hong Paterson, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Green Climate Fund (GCF)
• Aloke Barnwal, Senior Climate Change Specialist, GEF Programs Unit, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

SOFF Support II

Witness global leaders’ expressing support that will shape the course of finance for systematic observations.

• Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development, Norway
• Kerstin Stendahl, Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Finland
• Antonio Nieto, Deputy Director for International Relations, Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Spain
• Leonore Gewessler, Federal Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria
• Benedikt Höskuldsson, Special Envoy for Climate, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland

Looking Ahead

Gain insight into our vision and strategy planned for 2024 and beyond.

• Jyotsna Puri, Associate Vice President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

This SOFF event promises to be an opportunity where partnerships strengthen, and where we collectively take steps towards Early Warnings for All. Join us, as we rewrite the narrative on innovative finance and bring about lasting positive change.