Investing in Impact: The scientific case to fund basic weather and climate data
The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) has released a new brochure that makes the scientific case of impacts of basic and weather data and better weather forecasts. The Brochure: SOFF Investing in Impact explains how the lack of data means worse forecasts, with devastating effects to countries and communities. Filling basic weather and climate data gaps that improve weather forecasts is proven to benefit individuals and economies, saving lives and livelihoods.
The publication underscores SOFF’s role as a foundational mechanism providing grant-only financial support and technical assistance to strengthen resilience and enable early warning systems further down the value chain, in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.
Proven Forecasting Improvements
The brochure highlights the results of recent impact experiments by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). These simulations show that when SOFF-supported observation gaps are filled, errors in forecasting reduce significantly: up to 30% in Africa and 20% in the Pacific. These results provide the strongest scientific evidence yet that closing the observations gap delivers measurable global and local forecasting benefits.
“Reporting from stations in remote areas of the globe contribute to global forecast quality up to 20 times more than any single station in continental Europe.” – Florence Rabier, former Director General, ECMWF
Additional findings:
- Less than 10% of the required and mandatory surface data from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries are delivered (source: WMO).
- In October 2023, Hurricane Otis turned from a modest tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane within 24 hours. Forecast models failed to predict this rapid intensification due to limited data availability in the Eastern Pacific. Without an accurate forecast, Otis struck almost without warning, causing an estimated damage of US$ 12 billion and at least 52 fatalities (source: NOAA).
- US$ 160 billion of benefits could be generated through high quality and timely weather forecasts (source: World Bank).
- 100:1 benefit-cost ratio delivered by investments in improved farmer-centered forecasts, transforming resilience, productivity, and global food security (source: AIM for scale).
“In the new climate economy weather data is economic data.” – Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (source)
Delivering Impact Where It Matters Most
Countries that collect and share basic weather and climate data internationally contribute to a global public good. To date, SOFF has programmed 66 countries, with 61 receiving Readiness support, and 15 countries already receiving Investment funding. To achieve this, countries receive support through long-term grants and technical assistance by SOFF to help countries meet the requirements of the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON). Through partnerships with peer advisors, Implementing Entities, and technical support from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), countries are supported every step of the way.
“The data enabled through SOFF benefits every country, every sector, and every person in the long term.” – Markus Repnik, Director of the SOFF Secretariat
Scaling Up with Innovative Finance
The brochure also outlines SOFF’s next phase: scaling up investments through blended finance. With USD 107 million mobilized in its first few years by 12 initial funders, SOFF is now developing a SOFF Impact Bond. The Bond is expected to unlock up to USD 200 million in additional resources and accelerate global impact, both from “classic” funders, but also tapping into the private sector.
“Basic weather and climate observations are a global public good. Yet too many regions still lack the data to improve forecasts. This is needed to protect lives and livelihoods. With the SOFF Impact Bond, we aim to change that by aligning sustainable finance with the great need for systematic observations.” – Thomas Asare, WMO Assistant Secretary-General
SOFF is a key delivery mechanism for the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All initiative and contributes directly to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Investing in systematic observations is essential to saving lives, protecting economies, and enabling sustainable development. This scientific case shows how much a new partnership for systematic observation can benefit everyone. A partnership that SOFF is contributing to, not built on “aid” but on equal footing. A partnership that recognizes and values the important contributions of the Global South to the global observing system.
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