UN Climate Change, GEO Launch Policy Brief to Bolster Climate Resilience with Early Warning Technologies

On 11 November, Earth Information Day at COP29 in Baku, UN Climate Change’s Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) launched a new policy brief that offers a pathway for countries to navigate the complexities of responding to interconnected planetary crises.

Titled “Realising Early Warnings for All: Innovation and Technology in Support of Risk-Informed Climate Resilience Policy and Action,” the document highlights the transformative role of such technologies, from Earth observation satellites to Artificial Intelligence (AI), in supporting global climate resilience and disaster preparedness efforts.

TEC Chair Thibyan Ibrahim emphasized the critical nature of the brief’s findings: “Communities most vulnerable to climate impacts need access to reliable, locally tailored data to protect lives and ecosystems.

"By integrating Earth observations, AI and other digital technologies, we can strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) to save lives and mitigate disaster impacts.”

The policy brief points out that access to climate information and disaster risk knowledge is uneven, especially in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, where climate threats are severe.

Many of these regions lack the essential data and tools needed for effective MHEWS, reducing their ability to prepare for and respond to climate emergencies.

As part of the brief’s recommendations, governments are urged to integrate a mix of high- and low-tech solutions for early warning systems into climate strategies.

This includes ensuring coordinated funding and prioritising investments in scalable technologies like AI and mobile tech to build resilience.

Engaging local communities through technology and empowering citizen scientists can make early warning systems more responsive, while strengthening technical skills among diverse stakeholders enhances adaptation efforts.

Yana Gevorgyan, Director of the GEO Secretariat, highlighted the importance of combining local disaster risk knowledge with technology. “When we integrate data from local sources with Earth Observations and AI, we can transform early warning systems,” Gevorgyan explained.

“At GEO, we are convinced that Earth Intelligence can make early warnings accurate, timely and tailored to the unique needs of each community, making them truly effective and accessible for those who are most vulnerable."