ICAO-UNEP weather radar agreement will support climate resilience of Pacific Small Island Developing States

Montréal, 12 February 2024 – ICAO will provide procurement services and contribute to various initiatives led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for procurement related activities between both UN bodies. 

ICAO and UNEP have already implemented the agreement through the “Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience in 5 island countries of the Pacific Ocean” programme (UNEP CIS-Pac5) which include the Cook Islands, Niue, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu. The UNEP-led programme is funded by the Green Climate Fund. 

Under one of the activities state-of-the-art radars will improve weather monitoring and disaster preparedness in these States. 

Pacific Small Island Developing States are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The ability to monitor weather conditions with cutting-edge technologies and monitoring capacities is key to significantly improving climate resilience for their communities and ecosystems.

"By investing in cutting-edge weather radar technology, we aim at empowering Pacific Island States with the tools they need to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events, which are increasing due to climate change, and safeguard their communities,” remarked ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. “ICAO’s procurement services are integral to the aviation implementation support provided to Member States, and we welcome the opportunity to deploy this expertise in order to deliver this milestone project, which comes soon after the recent establishment of the ICAO Pacific Liaison Office.”

The ICAO-UNEP collaboration is aligned with the international community's commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and those goals in particular that pertain to climate action and global partnerships, helping to assure the livelihoods of the citizens of these countries as they adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.

The radar procurement to be implemented by ICAO’s Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau, will involve close collaboration with the ICAO Pacific Liaison Office and UNEP.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations agency which helps 193 countries to cooperate together and share their skies to their mutual benefit. 

Since it was established in 1944, ICAO’s support and coordination has helped countries to diplomatically and technically realize a uniquely rapid and dependable network of global air mobility, connecting families, cultures, and businesses all over the world, and promoting sustainable growth and socio-economic prosperity wherever aircraft fly.

As it enters a new era of digitization, and of incredible new flight and propulsion innovations, air transport is relying more than ever on ICAO’s expert support and technical and diplomatic guidance to help chart a new and exciting future for international flight. ICAO is innovating itself to answer this call, and expanding its partnerships among UN and technical stakeholders to deliver a strategic global vision and effective, sustainable solutions.

Communications Officer