69th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum underway in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025 (FMC) – The 69th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 69) is taking place in Addis Ababa in attendance of a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, climate scientists, policymakers, development partners, and representatives from various sectors.
The meeting organized by ICPAC in collaboration with partner, serves as a platform for regional climate analysis and early warning dissemination.
Representing Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Officer in Charge of IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), Dr. Abdi Fidar, has stressed the importance of integrating climate services into national policies and sectoral strategies such as agriculture, water, energy, health, and disaster risk reduction.
Dr. Abdi Fidar, highlighted the region’s vulnerability to climate change, referencing recent extreme weather events such as cyclones, heatwaves, and desert locust invasions.
“The IGAD region has experienced alarming climatic extremes over the past year. We faced cyclones, extreme heatwaves, devastating floods, and heightened rainfall, only for this to transition into prolonged dry spells and below-normal rainfall across most parts of the region. These patterns of volatility highlight the increasing uncertainty in our climate and the urgent need for robust systems to anticipate, respond to, and mitigate these impacts,” he noted.
Director General, Fetene Teshome, for his part, stated that Ethiopia is ramping up efforts to enhance climate services to address the growing challenges posed by climate variability and climate change, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI),
He emphasized the importance of reliable climate information to minimize risks and optimize opportunities for various economic sectors.
Fetene highlighted the Ethiopian government’s commitment to strengthening EMI by expanding outreach, enhancing capacity, and investing in state-of-the-art meteorological technology.
“The Government of Ethiopia is dedicated to equipping EMI with modern meteorological systems, capacitating national and regional staff, and fostering collaboration with international partners such as ICPAC to minimize climate risks,” he stated.
Representing the Minister of Water and Energy, Motuma Mekassa said IGAD’s work in coming up with initiatives geared towards mitigating and combating the effects of climate change is essential in making steps towards ensuring sustainable development and safeguarding livelihoods in this region.
He reiterated Ethiopia’s appreciation for hosting the forum, emphasizing the critical role of climate services in national planning and sustainable development.
“Ethiopia also recognizes the critical role of accurate climate forecasting in enhancing preparedness and decision making,” Motuma stated.
He also commended IGAD’s contributions to climate resilience and called for sustained investment in climate services.
”These partnerships aid in strengthening the dissemination of timely, accurate climate information that benefits communities, governments, and different sectors”
“We acknowledge and commend IGAD’s vital role as a regional institution promoting integration and collaboration among Member States. In addition to its significant contributions to #peace and #security, IGAD’s work in coming up with initiatives geared towards mitigating and combating the effects of #climatechange is essential in making steps towards ensuring sustainable development and safeguarding livelihoods in this region,” Motuma added.
GHACOF 69 brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including climate scientists, policymakers, development partners, and representatives from various sectors, to assess past climate conditions, discuss the anticipated climate outlook for the upcoming season, and develop strategies to enhance climate resilience across the Greater Horn of Africa region.