At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) on July 26, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) launched a new early warning initiative that bears the acronym "MAZU." MAZU aims to establish a global early warning service network in the face of escalating climate threats.

The global effort comes under the auspices of UN's Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which seeks to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.

MAZU stands for "Multi-hazard, Alerts, Zero-gap coverage, and Universal accessibility," which summarizes the global partnership's goals. It also aims to work and share China's expertise in meteorological technology and disaster resilience.

With climate change posing urgent risks, the CMA pledged to strengthen global early warning networks by providing technical support, improving risk assessment tools, and fostering cross-border cooperation. CMA Administrator Dr Chen Zhenlin stated at the Saturday event that accessible early warnings are "a shared global vision and a key mission for China."

According to the CMA, China has already collaborated with nations like Pakistan, Ethiopia and the Solomon Islands to develop cloud-based early warning platforms. It also supports capacity-building via training programs and scholarships, enabling countries to train local experts and adopt data-driven strategies.

On Saturday, the CMA reaffirmed its commitment to assist developing nations in boosting climate adaptation, accelerating progress toward global early warning coverage by 2027.

(Cover: /CMA)