Azerbaijan Plans To Strengthen Climate Information And Early Warning Systems - Official
She noted that the consequences of climate change over the past decade have been observed in the form of an increase in extreme events on a global scale.
"The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of increased vulnerability to climate risks in urban areas in low- and middle-income countries.
Severe and longer-lasting heat waves in Europe, devastating floods in Nepal and weather and climate anomalies in many countries around the world demonstrate the importance of increasing climate resilience to these processes.
According to the assessment of the Climate Change Vulnerability Index of Azerbaijan, the number and intensity of extreme weather and climate events have increased significantly over the past 10 years, making it necessary to integrate climate issues into sectoral development plans.
Early warning accessible to everyone is not just information. Sometimes, a warning is an important tool that saves lives and significantly reduces infrastructure damage.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) notes that even a warning given just 24 hours in advance can reduce such damage by up to 30%.
The world is currently undergoing serious transformations and new opportunities due to the impact of artificial intelligence," she explained.
According to her, it's no coincidence that the importance of this issue is being confirmed on all global platforms.
"In this direction, the 'Artificial Intelligence Strategy of Azerbaijan for 2025-2028', approved by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev in March 2025, is an important document that determines the policy of our country.
The implementation of the strategy will accelerate the development and application of artificial intelligence in the country. A more systematic approach will be formed in this area. A favorable environment will be created for the application of innovations and new technologies. Relevant infrastructure and human capital will be strengthened. This strategic approach will also create new opportunities in the fight against climate change. In particular, the establishment and development of early warning systems will be supported.
In October 2025, the WMO adopted a decision encouraging the application of artificial intelligence in forecasting and early warning systems.
The integration of artificial intelligence into early warning systems will allow for a faster assessment of climate risks. It will be possible to take some preventive measures in a timely manner. At the same time, "It also raises new challenges such as data quality and accessibility, information security, technological infrastructure, reliability, and human control," Taghiyeva
The deputy minister said that monitoring and developing forecasting of extreme weather events is not an option - it's an investment that saves lives.
"Our country has taken important steps towards investing in the modernization of the national monitoring system. Azerbaijan has an extensive meteorological observation system. Over the past 5 years, taking into account investments for 2026, 82% of these systems have already been automated. However, this is only the main and first step towards creating an early warning system. There are a number of important goals that need to be achieved. Because climate change is no longer a threat that is happening in the distance - its effects are a reality that we are experiencing today and here.
The UN call is clear: reducing emissions cannot be postponed. Time is running out to achieve the 1.5°C target. Decisions made today will determine the scale of the climate risks we will face tomorrow. Therefore, as much as reducing emissions, strengthening our potential to adapt to climate change is our urgent task. To do this, it's necessary to create modern systems such as local Digital Weather Forecasting Models and sectors are required to be provided with impact-based information. The country's first NAP and NDC 3.0 document identified the development of early warning systems as a target in the field of adaptation.
To this end, we plan to implement the project 'Strengthening climate information and early warning systems against multiple hazards for increasing resilience in Azerbaijan' in cooperation with UNEP and the Green Climate Fund," the official said.
She noted that innovations related to artificial intelligence are prompting a reconsideration of technological priorities.
"The call of the UN General Assembly for the integration of artificial intelligence into forecasting and early warning systems necessitates a new look at this project document prepared about 5 years ago. Azerbaijan organized a series of events on the topic of strengthening early warning systems on the COP29 platform and at the 13th World Urban Forum. We believe that the new climate finance goal agreed at COP29 will create significant opportunities for vulnerable countries in the field of adaptation to climate change, as well as in the field of early warning," she added.
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