Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has launched the State of the Climate in Africa 2025 Report with a call to African countries to invest in national and regional meteorological capacities.
Mr Kangwa has stressed the need to adequately finance and modernise meteorological and hydrological services at national level.
He says this will enable countries to deliver timely, accurate and actionable weather, climate and water information.
Mr Kangwa has explained that disaster risk management largely depends on reliable climate information to enhance resilience among communities.
“National meteorological and hydrological services must be adequately financed, modernised, and empowered to deliver timely, accurate, and actionable weather, climate, and water information,” he said.
The Secretary to the Cabinet said this in a speech read for him at the event by Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Luckson Kasonka.
And, Mr Kangwa has implored African countries and the private sector to use the state of the climate in Africa report as a tool for strategic decision-making and planning.
He noted that the report is instrumental in strengthening disaster preparedness among the vulnerable communities.
Mr Kangwa pointed out that timely, trusted and well-communicated climate information has the potential to save lives, protect livelihoods, and safeguard economies.
Meanwhile, World Meteorological Organisation Secretary General, Celeste Saulo, says the impact of climate-related hazards can be reduced if communities receive timely, reliable and credible warnings.
In his virtual address, Professor Saulo, indicated that the report has highlighted how collaboration between interagency and community support can avert climate-related shocks.
