Innovative financing for weather and climate observations recognized by the European Meteorological Society
UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS, 7 September 2026 – The European Meteorological Society (EMS) today awarded its 2026 Silver Medal to Markus Repnik, Director of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), for his leadership in creating the United Nations fund that supports developing countries in closing basic weather and climate data gaps.
Weather forecasts, early warnings and climate services all begin with weather and climate observations. Yet the infrastructure needed to generate and internationally exchange these data remains missing or incomplete, particularly in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, weakening predictions locally and worldwide.
“Under Markus’ leadership, SOFF has helped to communicate the fundamental importance of national services far beyond the meteorological community—to governments, development and climate finance organizations, and to the highest political levels,” said Florence Rabier, incoming President of the European Meteorological Society. “You have raised the visibility and relevance of meteorological science, and you’ve helped build mechanisms that will benefit our community and, very importantly, communities around the world for many years to come.”
Past investments have too often focused on installing weather stations without providing the sustained financing, technical capacity and institutional support needed to operate and maintain them. SOFF was designed to address this challenge. Its model combines peer-to-peer technical assistance, investment in infrastructure and institutional capacity, and a long-term, results-based financing mechanism designed to support continued operation and maintenance.
“I am deeply humbled to receive this medal, but this recognition belongs to the many people who turned an ambitious idea into a new way of financing a global public good,” said Repnik. “Countries are committed to deliver their share of the global observing system. Our responsibility is to ensure they receive the sustained support needed to keep these essential data flowing”.
In four years, SOFF has provided initial support to 66 countries, 26 of which have entered the Investment Phase. A total of USD 133 million has been approved to strengthen infrastructure, institutional capacity and international data exchange. These investments are already translating into additional data being internationally shared by countries such as Chad, Mozambique, Bhutan and Cabo Verde, closing gaps in some of the most data-sparse areas of our planet.
European governments are among SOFF’s leading funders and European national meteorological services, and regional institutions contribute technical expertise and peer support. Together, SOFF’s funders have mobilized approximately USD 150 million. However, more than 100 countries have requested support, and the resources mobilized so far are not sufficient to finance the country plans already prepared and respond to the demand.
To scale up its response, SOFF is innovating finance by issuing Systematic Observation Impact Bonds. The bonds are designed to mobilize capital upfront from mission-aligned investors, backed by long-term donor commitments, so countries can close their observation gaps faster.
Photos: Robèrt Kroonen
About the EMS Silver Medal:
The EMS Silver Medal was established in 2008 to highlight distinguished contributions to the development of meteorology in Europe. The Award is presented annually. Previous Silver Medallists included the late Karin Labitzke (2008), David Burridge (2010), the late Jean François Geleyn (2011), Michel Jarraud (2016), Julia Slingo (2017), Sarah Jones (2023), Sue Grimmond (2024) and Florence Rabier (2025).
About European Meteorological Society:
The EMS is the association of Meteorological Societies in Europe. The network consists of 36 Member Societies and 31 Associate Members. The EMS is a non-profit-making organisation. The EMS Annual Meetings attract some 600 people each year from all sectors of the field. With a number of Awards outstanding contributions to the science, its applications and communication are honoured; young scientists are supported through conference grants.
About SOFF:
Established in 2022, the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is a United Nations fund co-created by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) dedicated to closing the basic weather and climate data gaps in the world’s most resource-constrained regions. SOFF provides grants and peer-to-peer technical assistance to help Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States generate and sustain surface-based observations that meet Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) standards.
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