Climate change impacts are becoming more severe, making the need for climate services to support mitigation, adaptation, and resilience crucial. Although progress has been made in providing climate information for decision-making over the past five years, there are still significant gaps that need to be addressed, and investment in climate services falls short of what is required.
According to the recent State of Climate Services report, in 2024, approximately one third of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) offer climate services at an ‘essential’ level, with nearly another third providing services at an ‘advanced’ or ‘full’ level. Countries in Asia and Africa have made significant advancements in enhancing their climate service capabilities, largely due to targeted adaptation funding.
The report also highlights that 2023 was the warmest year on record, with this unprecedented warmth carrying over into 2024. Climate extremes are becoming more frequent and intense, although reported deaths due to weather and climate-related incidents have been decreasing over time, thanks to improved early warnings and disaster risk management. However, economic losses continue to rise.
In addition to assessing the current state of climate services, the report showcases the progress made over the past five years. It features analyses and success stories from countries like Seychelles, Mauritius, Laos, and Ireland, demonstrating how they have effectively utilized climate services to achieve various socioeconomic benefits and advance climate action.
The findings of the report are based on contributions from 38 partners, including major climate finance institutions such as the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and the Global Environment Facility, who are key partners in the report series, as well as the UNFCCC Secretariat. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction collaborated closely with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the Investment section of this year’s edition.
Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of enhancing climate services to address the growing challenges posed by climate change. It calls for increased investment in climate services to ensure that decision-makers have access to the necessary information to effectively respond to climate-related risks and impacts. By leveraging climate services, countries can not only enhance their resilience but also achieve sustainable development goals and advance climate action on a global scale.