ECMWF at COP28

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Orange-yellow sand dunes. Overlaid text: ECMWF at COP28, UAE, 30 November to 12 December 2023

Background image: kertu_ee/iStock/Getty Images Plus 

From 30 November to 12 December 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosts the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai.

ECMWF will discuss how, in collaboration with Member States and international partners, we can find new routes to better weather forecasts and early warning systems, including through new technology, and we will emphasise the importance of the global observing system. 

In our role as entrusted entity for the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), we will highlight how quality-assured data on atmospheric composition and the Earth’s changing climate are supporting national and global policy-making and climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

We will also present our work in the EU's Destination Earth initiative, which contributes to efforts to boost Europe’s digital capabilities and the Green Deal actions on climate change.

Florence Rabier

"At this year’s COP, we are bringing ECMWF’s expertise in the use of observations, modelling and technology to the discussions to help shape future actions in the priority areas pursued by the WMO: Early Warnings for All by 2027; SOFF; water and climate; global greenhouse gas monitoring infrastructure; and climate science and services for climate action."

Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director-General

See below for an overview of the events we are co-organising with the SOFF and DG DEFIS, and events at which we are invited to speak with international partners including the UNFCCC, IPCC, and WMO.

Events co-organised by ECMWF

Innovative finance, better weather forecasts, effective climate action

On the COP28 Finance Day, ECMWF Director-General Florence Rabier and SOFF Director Markus Repnik will host high-level representatives to discuss how innovative finance, weather forecasts, and climate action can come together to transform the vision of ‘Early warnings for all’ into a reality.

The event will focus on the importance of closing the basic observations gap in developing countries for better forecasts and predictions. Speakers will discuss the importance of accurate weather forecasts for protection of life and property and better decisions, including adaptation to climate change.

Daniel Gellens, Director-General of the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium and President of the ECMWF Council, will announce how ECMWF will support the SOFF through the provision of high-resolution forecasts for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is a specialised UN fund to support countries in closing today’s basic weather and climate observation data gaps according to the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON).

Our shared future: Climate monitoring, climate adaptation, climate mitigation and cross-sector collaboration working together in the EU to deliver the Green Deal and achieve the green transition
  • ECMWF speakers: Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S; Ruth McAvinia, Copernicus Communication Team Leader at ECMWF
  • Friday, 1 December
  • 14:30 to 15:30 GST/GMT+4; 11:30 to 12:30 CET
  • EU pavilion; streamed live from Brussels
  • Event details and recording

C3S and CAMS are co-organising an event with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) entitled ‘Our shared future: Climate monitoring, climate adaptation, climate mitigation and cross-sector collaboration working together in the EU to deliver the Green Deal and achieve the green transition.’

Framed by the current climate crisis, exemplified by the record-breaking events of this summer, the event will highlight the growing role environmental data play in informing decisions and policies of our society, through a variety of voices and experiences.

A comprehensive climate strategy will be essential to tackle climate change, which should include climate monitoring, climate adaptation and climate mitigation efforts, as well as the availability of innovative tools. The speakers, representing key organisations and sectors of society, will provide important elements for initiatives like the Copernicus Programme to better understand different needs and to keep supporting countries in implementing their climate strategies and the EU in its green transition.

 

Events with invited ECMWF speakers

Early warnings for all: Artificial intelligence to unlock the potential of early warning systems
  • ECMWF speaker: Florence Rabier, Director-General
  • Friday, 1 December 
  • 18:00 to 19:00 GST/GMT+4; 15:00 to 16:00 CET
  • IPCC-WMO-MERI Pavilion
  • Event recording

At this session organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ECMWF Director-General Florence Rabier joins speakers from the private and public sectors to showcase existing and potential uses of AI in the weather and climate sphere and its role in the UN Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.

Deployment of the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (GGGW): boosting the engagement of the private sector
  • ECMWF speaker: Jean-Noël Thépaut, Director of Copernicus Services at ECMWF
  • Friday, 1 December
  • 16:00 to 17:00 GST/GMT+4; 13:00 to 14:00 CET
  • UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion, Blue Zone
Where is global warming in relation to the long-term temperature goal?
  • ECMWF speaker: Carlo Buontempo, Director of C3S
  • Friday, 1 December
  • 16:15 to 18:00 GST/GMT+4; 13:15 to 15:00 CET
  • IPCC Pavilion, Blue Zone
CAMS and C3S: Copernicus data in support of climate action

In addition to the CAMS and C3S events mentioned above, the Copernicus Services run by ECMWF are participating in a wide range of events as detailed at COP28: Copernicus data in support of climate action.

UNFCCC Earth Information Day – World Café
  • ECMWF speakers: Florence Rabier, Director-General; Jean-Noël Thépaut, Director of Copernicus Services at ECMWF; Carlo Buontempo, Director of C3S
  • Sunday, 3 December
  • 15:00 to 17:00 GST/GMT+4; 12:00 to 14:00 CET
  • MR 36, Blue Zone
  • Event details and programme

ECMWF will contribute to expert discussions at three stations in the World Café organised by the UNFCCC as part of Earth Information Day:

  1. The role of national delegates to support building the global observing system for climate
  2. Global climate indicators – from the global observing system to knowledge transfer at the science-policy nexus – what can we further do?
  3. The role of observations in support of national reporting
Global data for climate action
  • ECMWF speaker: Florian Pappenberger, Director of Forecasts
  • Wednesday, 6 December
  • 11:45 to 12:30 GST/GMT+4; 8:45 to 9:30 CET
  • UNEP Pavilion
  • Event recording (starting at 1:20:00)

Florian Pappenberger will present the work of ECMWF in the EU's Destination Earth (DestinE) initiative, as he joins speakers from NASA and ClimateTRACE for a panel discussion hosted by the UN Environment Programme on use cases for global environmental data.

Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
  • ECMWF speaker: Ahmed Shabin, Maldives Meteorological Service and WMO Fellow hosted at ECMWF
  • Sunday, 3 December, TBC
  • Red Cross Pavilion

Ahmed Shabin is part of the delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in his capacity as a Vice-President of the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) governing board and through the IFRC Climate Champions initiative. His main areas of engagement will relate to climate literacy and nature-based solutions.

Read more about the Red Cross key messages for COP28.