Stockholm 2024 Asia-Pacific Focus Session
26 August (Mon) 9:00-10:30 CEST
Conveners: APWF, IWMI, UN-HABITAT, ADB

Session Overview
Locally led, multi-hazard early warning systems are critical to shield Asia-Pacific communities from escalating disaster risks, but success hinges on cultural sensitivity, political buy-in, and rigorous evaluation. This session dived into the practices, exploring practical considerations and emphasizing the crucial role of collective action, capacity building, and technology investments, clarifying the gaps needed to bridge to scale up multi-hazards warning systems.

Session outcomes detail
Mr. Ben Churchill, Director of the WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific, delivered a keynote on the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, highlighting its goals and the WMO’s contributions. Key points include:

• Coverage Gaps: Currently, only 65% of the global population is covered by early warning systems, mainly in developed countries. The initiative aims to extend coverage to everyone by 2027 through partnerships, technology, and funding.
• Regional Focus: In Asia and the Pacific, the WMO focuses on strengthening early warning systems with the help of regional members, national leadership, and various stakeholders. Coordination is key to maximizing impact.
• Climate Impact: Regional State of the Climate Reports in Asia in 2023 State of the Climate in Asia Report revealed significant hydro-meteorological disasters in Asia. The report focused on South-West Pacific, launched on 27th August 2024, delivered a key takeaway that issuing a warning just 24 hours before a disaster can reduce its impact by 30%, saving lives and billions of dollars. For example, with early warnings, Cyclone Moka caused significantly fewer deaths than a similar cyclone 50 years ago.
• Ongoing Initiatives: Projects like HydroSOS, the Flash Flood Guidance System, and others are improving disaster preparedness and resilience.
• Collaboration & Actions: Combining the Early Warnings for All initiative with various funding mechanisms is significantly advancing capacity-building and resilience, particularly in vulnerable communities. Furthermore, early warnings contribute to all 17 SDGs, not just SDG 13 on climate action. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services play a vital cross-cutting role, enhancing resilience and promoting sustainability across various sectors. To ensure their continued success, collective global support is essential.

After Mr. Churchill’s keynote presentation, 4 onsite speakers introduced their cases to fill in the gaps in multi-hazards Warning Systems in Asia and the Pacific.

Dr. Avi Sarkar, Regional Advisor – South-East Asia, UBS | Head of Office, Lao PDR, UN-HABITAT, presented “From Data to Action: Weaving Community Voices into Disaster Preparedness for a Resilience Lao PDR.” In Lao PDR, the impact of climate change is severe, with significant economic losses and frequent climate-related disasters. In 2018 alone, the country faced $360 million in economic losses, and floods are projected to cost 3.6% of GDP annually. Over the past 12 years, there have been 39 major climate disaster incidents. The northern and central parts of Lao PDR are expected to experience reduced precipitation, while the southern region will see increased rainfall and changes in the onset of the wet season.

To address these challenges, UN-Habitat, in partnership with the Adaptation Fund and other partners, has created a detailed hazard map covering all 18 provinces, 148 districts, and 8499 villages. This mapping effort included extensive community consultations to verify findings, revealing that 46% of settlements are exposed to at least one climate hazard annually, affecting nearly half the population.

Two critical gaps identified are the lack of a common alert protocol and insufficient community feedback mechanisms. In order to address these, a new EWS app is being developed to enhance community involvement by allowing information dissemination and receipt. In addition, UN-Habitat’s efforts include building infrastructure such as evacuation centers and water sanitation facilities and capacity-building programs involving communities, policymakers, and government officials to improve digital literacy and participation in the early warning system.

Although it’s too early to measure the full impact, initial signs suggest that the project is building community trust, engaging local concerns, and improving digital literacy. The pilot phase covers five provinces and six districts, with plans to scale up based on positive outcomes. Improved coordination among the 20 agencies working in this space is crucial to maximize resource use and effectiveness. 

Dr. Giriraj Amarnath, Principal Researcher – Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience, IWMI, presented “Highlighting AWARE Platform in strengthening early warning to early action initiatives from Sri Lanka.”

Despite global progress in early warning systems, significant challenges remain, particularly in developing multi-hazard early warning systems and quantifying cascading risks. He highlighted the 8 current gaps and challenges of early warning systems in early actions.

1. Insufficient or inaccurate data can compromise the reliability of early warnings

2. Limited Coverage and Access: Uneven coverage and communication barriers
3. Risk Perception and Public Awareness: Complacency can lead to a lack of preparedness and slow response to early warnings
4. Resource Constraints: Funding and infrastructure
5. Governance and Coordination: Fragment systems and political factors
6. Cultural and Language Considerations: Lack of info on multiple languages and culturally relevant can be a challenge
7. Technological Challenges: reliance on technology for EWS and access to smartphone, internet
8. Response Capacity: Lack of coordination of response plans and resources results in delays or inefficiencies during response efforts.

He emphasized governance and coordination as major bottlenecks and the importance of integrating early warning systems with effective governance and local action to build livelihood resilience. Effective disaster risk governance requires improved strategic coordination among institutions.

He then introduced the case of Sri Lanka with the video. He highlights the Early Warning, Early Action, Early Finance (AWARE) platform applied in Sri Lanka, which integrates technical and coordinating institutions to provide early action protocols at the village level. This platform helps disaster preparedness and response by connecting hydro-meteorological agencies with local governance.

Anticipatory Action Simulation Drill to mitigate landslides and flood risks in Sri Lanka | IWMI　（AWARE Program In Sri Lanka）　

An example from Sri Lanka illustrates the impact of locally-led adaptation measures. Restoring local infrastructure, such as canals, has significantly reduced flood damage, demonstrating that early warning systems alone are insufficient. Local management and infrastructure improvements are crucial for effective resilience.

In order to enhance resilience, there needs to be a focus on participatory governance, local infrastructure improvements, and the integration of early warning systems with community-driven actions.

He emphasized that achieving resilience requires a holistic approach, combining early warning systems with strong governance and local adaptation efforts.

Mr. Takahiro Konami, Director, the International Affairs Office, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MLIT, Japan, presented “How to mind the gap among stakeholders on Flood early warning” usin Japan’s cases.

Japan has been at the forefront of improving flood early warning systems through significant investment in both structural and non-structural measures. Japan ensures accurate flood prediction and monitoring by deploying advanced weather and rainfall radars, including 39 units X-band MP radars, and establishing over 14,000 water gauges across the country. These technologies are complemented by collecting ground data and developing easily understandable flood maps for citizens.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain in raising citizen awareness. In response, Japan introduced the ” Call Lovers to Evacuate initiative”, to notify children and other relatives who live alone of water levels and inundation risks in areas in which they live are efforts aimed at supporting calls for evacuation by relatives (person to person) and the voluntary evacuation behavior of residents.

On the international stage, Japan collaborates extensively through the UNESCO-led International Flood Initiative and other projects in the Asia-Pacific region. International Flood Initiatives, which Secretariat is ICHARM, promotes the establishment of “platforms on water resilience and disasters” worldwide, particularly in Asian countries The support through IFI initiatives includes building community resilience, creating flood risk maps, and developing international standards for managing hydrological risks.

Japan’s leadership in flood management is further reinforced through its contributions to international conferences, including the United Nations Water Conference in 2023, where it helped shape global guidelines for addressing climate-related risks through the action workflow.

Moreover, Japan is willing to propose the International Workshop Agreement (IWA) to identify existing and potential standardization topics by analyzing works inside and outside ISO.

Japan continues to share its expertise globally, fostering cooperation to save lives and reduce economic damage through comprehensive early warning systems and infrastructure development.

Mr. Lance Gore, Principal Water Resources Specialist, ADB, introduced their responses to glacial melt in the Himalayas region entitled “The Roof of the World is Melting” – Responding to Glacial Melt.” He presented ADB has addressed the urgent issue of glacial melt, which poses significant risks to downstream river basins. This challenge, relevant to early warning systems, affects millions across Asia, with profound implications for agriculture, energy, and urban development.

In collaboration with partners like ICIMOD, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and others, ADB is prioritizing this issue, as emphasized by our president during the Bandung Spirit Water Summit at the World Water Forum.

ADB is actively mobilizing resources to support developing member countries through four main strategies:

1. Strengthening multi-hazard risk assessments.
2. Enhancing cross-border early warning systems.
3. Innovating financing for climate resilience.
4. Deepening regional cooperation and knowledge sharing.

These initiatives aim to mitigate the long-term impacts of water insecurity on downstream river basins, home to about 2 billion people and critical for global food production and manufacturing.

Panel discussion

Dr. Thanapon Piman, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environmental Institute(SEI), Asia, moderated the panel discussion. 8 panelists responded to the questions from the moderators and audiences. 

Firstly, Dr. Thanaporn Piman asked Dr. Alok Sikka, Country Representative – India and Bangradesh, IWMI, to explain the benefit of using drought monitoring data and early warning system among policymakers and local farmers in enhancing agriculture resilience.

Dr. Alok Sikka responded that our efforts in South Asia, in collaboration with partners like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, have focused on developing the South Asia Drought Monitoring System. This comprehensive system integrates early warning, drought monitoring, and contingency planning, ensuring a proactive response to drought.

A key aspect of our approach is understanding the importance of lead time in drought management, which can range from 10 to 15 days. Using multiple data sources, we generate early warnings, linking them with hydrological systems for effective drought monitoring. The early warning system is connected to timely action, facilitating the implementation of drought contingency plans.

He also emphasized local adaptation, working at the village level to ensure early warnings are translated into concrete actions. It ensures that drought contingency measures are effectively implemented on the ground, mitigating the risk of large-scale damages. While early warning systems are crucial, contingency planning remains essential to manage any residual risks.

Secondly, Mr Viengxai Manivong, Deputy Director-General, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR, responded to the questions: “What are the primary strengths and critical gaps in the current multi-hazard early warning systems in Lao PDR? How is the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology addressing these gaps?

He shared strengths and gaps of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Lao PDR: Strengths and Gaps. His Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) in Lao PDR plays a vital role in weather and hydrological forecasting, data collection, and early warning dissemination to reduce disaster impacts. Several strengths have been identified, including:

1. Policy Support: Lao PDR has developed a policy framework, including the Disaster Management Law (2019), Early Warning Standard Operating Procedure (2017), and the National Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction (2022–2030). These provide the necessary legal structure for effective disaster management and early warning.
2. International Collaborations and Technological Enhancements: Partnerships with international organizations have strengthened the early warning system. These collaborations support local efforts in disaster monitoring and forecasting. Lao PDR has made significant technological upgrades in its observation networks and forecasting systems.
3. Community-Based Early Warning Systems: Localized initiatives, such as using loudspeakers in villages, radio broadcasts, and modern social media platforms ensure that early warning messages reach communities. The integration of traditional and modern communication methods strengthens community preparedness.

However, despite these advancements, there are critical gaps that need addressing:

1. Insufficient Observation Systems: There is a lack of adequate infrastructure for data collection, with poor maintenance affecting the accuracy of forecasts.
2. Limited Skilled Personnel: The DMH lacks enough trained personnel with the expertise to effectively manage forecasting and warning systems.
3. Impact-Based Forecasting: The capacity for impact-based forecasting is still underdeveloped, requiring further technical training, resources, and improved access to hazard exposure and impact data.
4. Feedback Mechanism: A robust system for gathering feedback from end-users is lacking. It limits the department’s ability to assess the effectiveness of early warnings and make necessary improvements.

In addressing these gaps, Lao PDR is exploring new protocols and platforms, such as the Common Alert Protocol with support from China, to enhance its early warning systems. However, feedback mechanisms remain an area requiring urgent attention.

Thirdly, Ms.Shairi Mathur, Head of Office, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Lao PDR, responded to the question, “How does the EW4All roadmap of Lao PDR ensure that vulnerable groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities, receive multi-hazard early warning messages to minimize harm?”

She highlighted the inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach of the EW4All roadmap, ensuring that vulnerable groups in Lao PDR receive timely and accessible early warning messages.

The Ministry of Meteorology and Hydrology officially endorsed the roadmap on 5th August, 2024. The roadmap’s development involved broad collaboration, including consultations with the Lao Women’s Union, the Lao Youth Union, and organizations for persons with disabilities.

UN-Habitat is working on identifying populations most exposed to risk and ensuring that disaster loss and damage data is disaggregated by sex, disability, and other factors.

Recognizing Lao PDR’s ethnic diversity, the roadmap emphasizes disseminating early warning messages in multiple languages to reach remote ethnic communities.

The roadmap incorporates accessible technology, such as voice technology, to ensure that early warning messages reach persons with disabilities. The roadmap highlights the importance of conducting drills, particularly in schools, to test early warning systems.

Fourthly, Mr. Pranto Paul, a World Youth Parliament for Water representative and the founder of Eco Prescription, Bangladesh, shared his experience in Bangladesh. With its 907 rivers, Bangladesh is experiencing severe flash floods affecting around 4 million people, with 75,000 temporarily displaced as of 23rd August. it highlights the critical importance of early warning systems. During the 10th World Water Forum in May, His team emphasized that youth involvement in early warning systems is essential. Cultural perspectives and traditional knowledge, such as those observed in Bangladesh’s Bay of Bengal, play a crucial role in understanding and predicting disasters.Indigenous knowledge can offer valuable insights into weather patterns and disaster predictions.

Despite the advances, there is a significant gap in awareness. Statistics show that only 28 % of the population was aware of early warnings between 2015 and 2022, indicating improved dissemination and education needs. Empowering local communities with early warning knowledge can help reduce loss and poverty, utilizing local expertise to create effective solutions. Integrating these elements can enhance the effectiveness of early warning systems and improve disaster resilience.

Question from the audience. 

1. “How is collaboration between the meteorological and hydrology departments and the agricultural sector facilitated, especially given that much of the response, adaptation, and resilience efforts need to happen in agriculture? He asked about the panelists’ experiences in building these linkages and fostering effective connections.

Question 2: What are your thoughts on improving coordination so that all organizations are working towards the same goal, and how can we prevent duplication of efforts?

Mr. Ben Churchill, WMO, responded to the two questions comprehensively, as they are closely related. The connection between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and the agricultural community is very strong, particularly at the local level. In agricultural countries, this relationship has existed for over a century. Meteorological and hydrological services must understand the needs of these communities and respond to them. It requires ongoing dialogue to identify thresholds, share climate projections, and provide both short-term and long-term guidance.

Coordination across sectors is critical. Everyone at the national level must understand the roles and actions of different agencies so they can work together effectively and complementarily. It ties into the “Early Warnings for All” concept, where multiple stakeholder groups—like in the excellent example from Laos—are involved to provide a broad understanding of what’s needed. It allows individual communities and stakeholders to access relevant information to guide decision-making.

As Dr. Avi Sarkar, UN-HABITAT, pointed out, it’s not just about disseminating early warnings; it’s about taking the right action at the right time. In addition, there needs to be a feedback loop to ensure the information is used effectively. A user-based, people-centric approach is essential to evaluate how information is utilized, its effectiveness, and how it can be improved. It creates a continuous improvement cycle.

There are excellent examples of Meteorological and Hydrological Services working closely with the agricultural sector, such as in the Mekong Basin, where the onset of monsoon rains follows extended periods of drought. As Mr. Lance Gore, ADB mentioned, it’s crucial to harness these changes, which will require time, technology, and investment. It will help us adapt to the evolving climate, addressing both the threats and the opportunities it presents.

Mr. Lance Gore, ADB, responded to Question 2 that ADB takes its coordination role very seriously. In preparing any investments or programs, we prioritize consulting with all active development partners in the country. It ensures we are coordinating effectively, communicating efficiently, avoiding duplication, and ideally, creating synergies in our efforts. We must leverage everyone’s contributions to maximize impact.

Much of the region’s infrastructure lacks the flexibility to capture and manage floodwaters, leading to significant ocean water loss. While this can sometimes be beneficial, the increasing frequency of droughts and extended dry periods calls for a more strategic approach. We must improve our capacity to capture and store water to ensure better resilience to these changing conditions.

Dr. Thanaporn Piman, wrapped up the session that everyone here has heard the crucial point about incorporating cultural and local knowledge into the design of early warning systems.

One key message is that 50% of people are still not well-informed about early warning systems and predictions. Improving coordination is essential to bridging this gap. IT includes investing in both infrastructure and local systems, and ensuring a balance between traditional and innovative solutions.

Moreover, adopting a human-centric approach is crucial. It is important to incorporate feedback from local communities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of early warning systems. We must ensure that the information generated is genuinely helpful to the end users.

Program

Session Introduction Ms. Yumiko Asayama, Chief Manager, Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) Secretariat c/o Japan Water Forum

Keynote presentation: Progress of the Early Warnings for All initiative in Asia and the Pacific: Saving Lives and Building Resilient Communities Mr. Ben Churchill, Director, WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific

Presentation 1: From Data to Action: Waving Community Voices into Disaster Preparedness for a Resilience Lao PDR Dr. Avi Sarkar, Regional Advisor – South-East Asia, UBS | Head of Office, Lao PDR, UN-HABITAT

Presentation 2: Highlighting AWARE Platform in strengthening early warning to early action initiatives from Sri Lanka Dr. Giriraj Amarnath, Principal Researcher – Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience, IWMI

Presentation 3 How to mind the gap among stakeholders on flood early warning Mr. Takahiro Konami, Director, International Affairs Office, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Japan

Presentation 4  “The Roof of the World is Melting” – Responding to Glacial Melt Mr. Lance Gore, Principal Water Resources Specialist, ADB

Panel Discussion 

• Onsite Moderator: Dr. Thanapon Piman,Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) Asia
• Moderator for the online audience: Ms. Yumiko Asayama, Chief Manager, APWF Secretariat/ Japan Water Forum

Panelists:

• Mr. Ben Churchill, Director, WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific
• Mr. Lance William Gore, Principal Water Resources Specialist, ADB
• Mr. Takahiro Konami, Director, International Affairs Office, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Japan
• Mr. Viengxai Manivong, Deputy Director-General, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Ms. Shairi Mathur, Head of Office, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Lao PDR  
• Mr. Pranto Paul, World Youth Parliament for Water/ the Founder of Eco Prescription, Bangladesh

Q& A with the audience

Session Wrap Up

Moderators: Dr. Thanapon Piman, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environmental Institute Asia (based in Bangkok, Thailand)

The video of this session can be viewed at the following link.

(Reporter: Ms. Yumiko Asayama, Chief Manager Japan Water Forum/ APWF Secretariat)