New York, USA, 20 September 2023 – The Multilateral Development Banks, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the World Bank, have endorsed the U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres's Special Initiative on Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL).

This initiative's primary goal is to ensure that early warning systems protect everyone by 2027. The endorsement occurred during the High-Level Thematic Session titled "Delivering Climate Justice: Accelerating Ambition and Implementation on Adaptation and Early Warnings for All" at the ongoing 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Islamic Development Bank President, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, delivered a remarkable statement on behalf of the Multilateral Development Banks, expressing their commitment to safeguarding the global population in the face of severe emerging weather conditions.

Dr. Al Jasser emphasized the collective recognition of the urgency to combat the negative impacts of climate change, which are rapidly leading to frequent extreme weather events and destruction.

He underscored that Secretary-General Guterres's initiative will play a pivotal role in protecting lives, livelihoods, and the environment while assisting countries and individuals in adapting to the changing climate.

The U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres, introduced the Early Warnings for All initiative in 2022 with a vision to establish an effective early warning system for every person on Earth by the end of 2027. This initiative accelerates ongoing efforts and aims to unite the broader U.N. system, governments, and partners across the public and private sectors to address gaps across the multi-hazard early warning systems value chain.

President Al Jasser reaffirmed the MDB's unwavering commitment to building on its extensive history of investing in and supporting countries to modernize early warning systems. This support is provided in partnership with the lead agencies of the EW4All initiative. He also stressed the commitment of the MDBs to working together in support of the EW4All initiative, with the aim of enhancing coordination, improving efficiency, and scaling up action to achieve this shared ambition, aligned with countries' development plans and requests.

In his endorsement of the UN Secretary-General's special global initiative, President Al Jasser emphasized the importance of collective action to make a difference. He stated that the global MDBs are uniting to support the UN Secretary General's initiative, "Early Warnings for All (EWA)," which aims to modernize early warning systems globally by 2027.

This groundbreaking initiative by UN Secretary Antonio Guterres seeks to ensure that, within four years, all people on Earth are protected from hazardous weather and climate events. President Al Jasser highlighted the collective endorsement of all MDBs for the UN Secretary-General's initiative, emphasizing the goal of modernizing early warning systems to protect everyone.

"We unite today to amplify our collective endorsement of the UN Secretary-General's special initiative on Early Warnings for All, which aims to ensure that early warning systems protect everyone by 2027," President Al Jasser stated.

Through this unified commitment and collaboration, the Multilateral Development Banks are actively contributing to global efforts to enhance early warning systems and protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.