SOFF at COP29, 14 Nov, 15.30 – Sustained climate finance for systematic observation

Date: 14 November 2024
Time: 15:30-16:30 (Azerbaijan, GMT+4), 12.30-13.30 CET (Geneva time)
Location: Spain Pavilion G20a – Zone E, details here
Livestream: YouTube

Basic weather and climate data are foundational for all weather and climate services which underpin effective decision-making of all stakeholders. To save lives and livelihoods as well as protect property across the whole globe, we must improve systematic observations from the most data sparse areas. Today’s massive lack of such observations limits countries’ capacity to effectively adapt to climate change and build resilience.

Programme

Moderation 

• Khadeeja Nasseem, SOFF Global Facilitator and former Maldives Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology  

Welcome and Setting the Scene 

• SOFF Steering Committee co-chairs: Prof Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General; and Dr Sinead Walsh, Climate Director at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs 

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

SOFF Value 

• Dr Florence Rabier, Director-General of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) 

• Dr Maarten Kappelle, Chief, Scientific Assessments Branch, Early Warning and Assessment Division, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 

• Srilata Kammila, Head Climate Change Adaptation, UN Development Programme (UNDP) 

• Prof Michael Kremer, 2019 Nobel prize for Economics, Chair of the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture 

SOFF Progress 

• Markus Repnik, Director SOFF Secretariat 

• Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Lands, Samoa (AOSIS Chair) 

SOFF Support 

• Sue Biniaz, Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, United States 

• Ambassador Willem van de Voorde, Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Belgium 

• Henrik Silkjær, Deputy Director for the Department of international climate policy, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark 

• Dr Pasi Hellman, Under-Secretary of State, Development Policy, Finland 

• Dr Marianne Johansen, Assistant Director, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Norway 

• Dr Fernando Belda Esplugues, Senior Advisor, Meteorological Agency, Spain

Closing 

• Dr Charles Ehrhart, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Green Climate Fund

• Prof Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General and Dr Sinead Walsh, Climate Director at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs