AU Commits to Climate Resilience at Joint ClimSA-SEWA Forum in Namibia
The African Union (AU) has reaffirmed its commitment to building climate resilience across the continent at the opening of the Joint Forum of the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) and Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) Programmes, held in Windhoek, Namibia.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Commissioner H.E. Moses Vilakati emphasized the urgent need to strengthen climate adaptation systems, warning that Africa faces “unprecedented vulnerability” due to climate-induced losses such as biodiversity depletion, water scarcity, and declining food production.
“Africa has never been more vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change,” he said, citing IPCC findings that highlight the severe impacts already being felt across key development sectors.
Hosted by the Government of Namibia and co-organized by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, the Forum brings together representatives from AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), meteorological services, and development partners to foster collaboration and innovation in climate and early warning systems.
Commissioner Vilakati praised the ClimSA and SEWA programmes as complementary interventions designed to fill capacity gaps in generating and disseminating reliable weather and climate information.
He called on governments to view financing for meteorological services not as a cost, but as a critical investment in resilience and sustainable development.
“The return on investment in climate services can be as high as ten to one,” he noted, urging Member States to boost budgetary support for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).
The Commissioner also thanked the European Union for its financial support, and challenged both partners and meteorological agencies to strengthen evidence-based advocacy to unlock more resources.
As deliberations continue, the AU emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint strategies to secure long-term sustainability and climate security for Africa.
