G7 countries boost funding for Climate Early Warning Systems initiative

By:  Robert Kwaku Annor

France and the United Kingdom have announced additional financial contributions to the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems initiative, reinforcing global efforts to expand access to life-saving early warning systems in vulnerable countries.

The funding commitments were disclosed during a G7 Development Ministers meeting held in Paris, where Éléonore Caroit and Jenny Chapman called on other G7 members to scale up support for the initiative. France and the UK each pledged an additional €3 million to the CREWS trust fund for 2026.

The CREWS initiative focuses on strengthening early warning systems in low-income countries, particularly in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, with the goal of closing the global early warning capacity gap by 2030. According to officials, the programme has already improved resilience in 77 countries and extended early warning coverage to more than 400 million people.

Experts at the meeting highlighted the economic and humanitarian value of early warning systems, noting that investments of approximately $800 million annually could prevent up to $16 billion in disaster-related losses and significantly reduce mortality rates. Early warnings issued at least 24 hours in advance can cut damage from extreme weather events by up to 30 percent.

The initiative draws on technical expertise from key international organisations, including the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the International Telecommunication Union, among others. Since 2017, the World Meteorological Organization has implemented CREWS-supported projects worth $67 million, assisting national meteorological and hydrological services in more than 70 countries.

Officials emphasized that despite progress, many countries remain without adequate systems to deliver timely warnings and trigger early action. The meeting underscored the need for continued international cooperation to strengthen resilience and reduce the growing economic and social impacts of climate-related disasters.

The funding announcement comes ahead of the upcoming G7 Heads of State Summit scheduled to take place in Evian, France, from June 15 to 17, where climate resilience and disaster preparedness are expected to remain key priorities.