Representatives of Mongolia's environmental sector organized a side event titled "Scaling Up Climate Adaptation Finance: Harnessing Impact-Based Early Warning Systems and Forecast-Based Financing" at the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) Pavilion on the opening day of COP31, the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

During the event, Namkhairinchen M., Head of the Policy and Planning Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), highlighted that Mongolia is among the countries most affected by climate change. He noted that over the past 80 years, Mongolia’s average air temperature has risen several times faster than the global average, desertification covers 81.9% of its territory, and extreme weather events have grown significantly more frequent. Reflecting on Mongolia's experience hosting COP17 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in August 2026, he emphasized that land, climate, and people are inextricably linked, underscoring that taking action before a disaster strikes, rather than after, is the most effective response.

The MECC presented key priorities to upgrade the observation network of the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM) under the "Early Warnings for All" (EW4All) initiative. These priorities include shifting from traditional weather forecasts to impact-based forecasting and directly linking early warning systems to forecast-based financing mechanisms. The ministry called on international partner organizations to join in these collaborative efforts.

Javzmaa S., Senior Specialist in Charge of Multilateral Cooperation at NAMEM’s Administrative Department, delivered a presentation titled “From Impact-Based Forecasting to Adaptation Investment Decisions”.  She presented the results of Mongolia's newly updated desertification atlas and outlined decision-making options tailored to various forecast timeframes.

Additionally, within the framework of EW4All’s four pillars -- risk knowledge, observation and forecasting, warning dissemination, and preparedness and response -- the delegation detailed priority investment needs. They put forward four proposals to expand international partnerships, integrate forecast-based financing into national adaptation policies and budgets, strengthen regional scientific cooperation, and implement local solutions.

The panel discussion, "Linking Early Warning Systems to Financing Mechanisms," was chaired by Tserendulam Sh., Head of the Climate Change and Environmental Analysis Department at NAMEM.

During the discussion, Daniel Kull, Director of the Division of Development Partnerships and Programme Delivery at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), spoke about international partnerships and the EW4All initiative. Doljinsuren M., Senior Specialist at the MECC's Policy and Planning Department, discussed ways to institutionalize forecast-based financing within national adaptation policy.

Toshiyuki Yamasaki, Director of the Secretariat for the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), addressed how regional scientific research can be applied to adaptation planning. Shu Zhu, Regional Director of the East Asia Secretariat of ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), shared insights into the use of radar technology, artificial intelligence, and smart city solutions to strengthen climate adaptation at the local level.

Published Date:2026-11-12