The Deputy Executive Director at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Jonas Sheelongo, said that early warnings regarding possible catastrophic disasters related to climate change have become an urgent necessity, as the African Union launched the Space for Early Warning program in Windhoek.
Climate experts from across the African continent are attending a weeklong conference in Namibia.
Sheelongo said Africa is experiencing an increase in exposure to devastating climate-induced disasters, including droughts, floods, wildfires, and cyclones.
"These events disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our societies, threatening food security, health systems, and current development gains that are timely, inclusive, accurate, and accessible to all, particularly those living in rural and suburban communities."
The Space for Early Warning programme, a joint initiative of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, the African Union, and international partners, seeks to leverage satellite-based technologies to deliver real-time climate data to vulnerable populations across Africa, improving preparedness and response to extreme weather events.
The director of Zambia Met Services, Edson Nkonde, described the programme as "a moral imperative" for the continent.
"This is no longer simply a technical matter. The escalating frequency of climate disasters is eroding livelihoods, lengthening recovery times, and undermining Africa's development aspirations."
He called on all stakeholders to collaborate openly, innovate boldly and ensure that the benefits of early warning systems reach the most vulnerable communities.
AU commissioner for Agriculture and Blue Economy, Moses Vilakati, outlined the programme's strategic goals, which are enhancing access to observation and meteorological data and building human capacity and technical expertise in space-based technologies.
"With the World Economic Forum's warning that extreme climate events are among the highest global risks in the coming decades, this programme could not have come at a more critical moment."
The officials expressed confidence that the Space for Early Warning program will directly support sustainable development and resilience-building efforts across the continent.