{
  "id": 15361785,
  "title": "Treat climate information as a strategic public good, climate scientists urge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/treat-climate-information-as-a-strategic-public-good-climate",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-18T05:36:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/treat-climate-information-as-a-strategic-public-good-climate-scientists-urg/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Climate experts are urging climate data to be treated as a valuable public asset and essential for developing resilience against climate change impacts. Edward Muriuki, the Acting Director General of the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, emphasizes the need to acknowledge the significance of enhancing climate information services as part of a larger policy approach that encourages adaptation, resilience, and sustainable growth. Speaking at the WISER Kenya Phase 3 workshop, Muriuki stressed that \"this demands a unified strategy that merges scientific knowledge with policy creation, planning, budgeting, implementation, and accountability.\" He highlighted that the WISER Kenya Phase III initiative aligns with Kenya's objective of bolstering early warning systems and ensuring climate insights guide decisions across all national and local levels.\n\nThe WISER Kenya Phase III project, spearheaded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the UK Met Office, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), KMSA, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), is committed to improving early warning systems and ensuring climate data informs choices at both national and county levels. Through initiatives like Climate Outlook Forums and Participatory Scenario Planning, the project has created vital platforms to convert scientific predictions into actionable insights specific to various sectors and to devise practical preparation measures.\n\nMuriuki explained that the WISER Kenya project, through joint efforts among national bodies, county governments, technical agencies, and communities, has facilitated capacity building, inclusive climate planning, collective technical creation, and the development of climate information products tailored to local requirements. Key areas of focus for the project include drought tracking, flood prediction, hydrological observation, and engaging communities to gather data that can shape future policy and institutional improvements.\n\nOne of the primary goals during the transition to the WISER Kenya Phase III is to transition from merely maintaining individual projects to institutionalizing effective practices, improving operational coordination, and embedding the use of climate information within existing government frameworks. At a recent meeting involving community leaders from Garissa County and Tana River County, Muriuki noted, alongside the UK FCDO, the UK Met Office, and the WMO, that Kenya is currently grappling with severe, unpredictable climate phenomena. He pointed out that the frequent, extreme cycles of intense floods and extended droughts are no longer hypothetical scenarios but current realities that endanger food production, hamper economic activities, and strain water resources.\n\nMuriuki stressed that WISER Kenya Phase 3 offers a crucial chance to enhance collaborative efforts and reinforce the hydrometeorological monitoring system for flood prediction, early alert, flood risk reduction, and sustainable water management. He criticized the reactive approach often adopted in climate disaster management across Africa, where communities wait for disasters to reach critical levels before mobilizing emergency resources. He said, \"Through the WISER Kenya initiative, this phase shifts the paradigm entirely from basic weather forecasting to action-focused and impact-driven early warnings.\" The WRA's CPA James M. Mburu underscored that the forecasting tools introduced under the WISER Kenya program will provide a vital window to manage water distribution, alert for potential disruptions, protect sensitive areas, and secure infrastructure before a disaster occurs. The WISER program is supported by the UK FCDO and is managed by the UK Met Office and led by the WMO, involving national institutions, partners, county governments, and community representatives to bolster the utilization of weather and climate data for proactive measures and early action in Garissa and Tana River Counties.",
  "summary": "Climate scientists are calling for weather and climate information to be treated as a strategic public good and an essential component of climate-resilient development. The Acting Director General of the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) Edward Muriuki, notes that it is imperative to recognise the importance of strengthening climate information services as part of a […] The post Treat…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}