The 9th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action & Disaster Prevention (CADP-2025) will be held from 25–27 November 2025 in Colombo, the largest international media event to be held in Sri Lanka this year.

Organized by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and hosted by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), the event will bring together more than 200 delegates from over 35 countries. 

Around 75 international delegates are expected, including high-level representatives from major broadcasters such as NHK (Japan), CMG (China), ABC (Australia), Doordarshan (India), TRT (Turkey), and RTM (Malaysia). They will join Sri Lankan Broadcaster experts and other key stakeholders in climate communication and disaster preparedness. 

With climate disasters on the rise, the role of the media is shifting from reporters of tragedy to partners in resilience. SLRC believes that hosting CADP-2025 is both an honour and a privilege for Sri Lanka. The Summit logo, website, and mascot were launched at a ceremony held yesterday (30). 

The Summit theme, “Building Resilience Through Media: For a Cleaner, Greener & Safer Tomorrow,” highlights how media can go beyond daily reporting to play a proactive role in safeguarding communities. Key features of the program include: 

• Launch of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP) Model for Media, supported by UNESCO.  
• High-level keynote addresses and thematic panels on disaster communication and climate action.  
• Training workshops for journalists to build practical skills in disaster reporting. 
• The ABU Climate Change and DRR Awards Ceremony. 

CADP-2025 in Colombo will spotlight Sri Lanka’s commitment to resilience and climate communication, while also promoting the nation as a sustainable tourism destination. A closing declaration will outline a regional roadmap for media cooperation in disaster risk reduction and climate action.

Since its inception in 2014 in Jakarta, the CADP Summit has been hosted by countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Fiji, Nepal, and the Maldives. The initiative was born after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which claimed over 227,000 lives across 14 countries, underscoring the urgent need for stronger media engagement in disaster preparedness. (Newswire)

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The monsoon has always been more than a season for India: it is a lifeline. Yet, as climate change disrupts rainfall patterns, what was once predictable has become precarious. This year’s unusual monsoon, with its early arrival and a rare midseason hiatus, illustrates just how fragile agricultural rhythms have become. But this year was also different for another reason: millions of Indian farmers had artificial intelligence on their side.

From Supercomputers to Smartphones

For decades, accurate weather forecasting was a privilege afforded only to governments and well-funded institutions, reliant on hundred-million-dollar supercomputers and massive datasets. But AI has begun to dismantle that exclusivity. With open-source models like Google’s NeuralGCM and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’s AI systems, highly granular predictions are now possible on devices as modest as a farmer’s smartphone.

This democratization of forecasting is not just technological innovation—it is a political and social breakthrough. In India, where smallholder farmers make up the bulk of the agricultural workforce, the government sent AI-driven forecasts to 38 million farmers this monsoon season. That number is staggering, not just because of its scale but because of its precision. Rather than offering broad weather summaries, forecasts were tailored to the needs of individual farmers: whether to plant early, buy more seed, or prepare for drought-like pauses.

“Up until very recently, to run a weather model, you needed a 100 million-dollar supercomputer,” Google Research’s Olivia Graham explained. Today, Parasnath Tiwari, a farmer in Madhya Pradesh, can receive predictive rainfall alerts on his phone. This shift represents more than efficiency—it is empowerment.

The Promise of Democratized Forecasting

What makes India’s experiment remarkable is not merely its technological sophistication but its accessibility. Weather forecasting, once dominated by elite institutions, is now being reframed as a public good. Researchers at the University of Chicago, working with the Indian government, helped bridge the gap between machine learning outputs and actionable advice. As Amir Jina, an assistant professor involved in the project, observed: “What dots hadn’t been connected before was this tailoring of forecast to purpose.”

That tailoring matters. A generic national forecast might warn of heavy rains, but a farmer in Bihar needs to know whether to delay planting rice seedlings, while a sugarcane grower in Maharashtra must decide whether to irrigate fields ahead of schedule. By delivering locally relevant insights, AI makes forecasting meaningful.

This democratization also creates a template for global adaptation. If India can deploy AI-driven forecasts at scale for some of the world’s poorest farmers, then other developing nations may follow suit. In the face of climate change, information is not just power—it is survival.

The High Stakes of Climate Volatility

The urgency could not be greater. Climate change threatens to destabilize India’s agriculture sector, which supports nearly half of the country’s population. Irregular monsoons disrupt sowing schedules, reduce yields, and imperil livelihoods. Michael Kremer, a Nobel laureate economist who studies agriculture in developing countries, underscores the stakes: “Climate change is really threatening their livelihoods in many cases.”

This year’s monsoon provided a live stress test. The early onset suggested abundant rains ahead, but the 20-day midseason stall left crops vulnerable. The AI forecast’s accuracy in predicting this hiatus allowed farmers to adapt, buying time and avoiding catastrophic losses. That precision may well have saved lives and incomes.

Such resilience is vital for India’s food security. Crops like rice, wheat, and sugar cane form not just the backbone of rural economies but also the diet of hundreds of millions. When weather falters, hunger looms. AI, then, is not merely a convenience—it is an instrument of national security.

Private Sector Innovation and Public Sector Reach

India’s initiative also signals a broader shift: climate adaptation is no longer solely the realm of governments. Technology companies and startups are accelerating innovation. Microsoft’s Aurora model, for instance, joins a growing commercial industry focused on AI weather forecasting. Meanwhile, corporations across sectors are installing mini weather stations to protect operations and supply chains from climate volatility.

Yet India’s program stands apart because of its emphasis on equity. By leveraging open-source AI and government networks, forecasts reached farmers who would otherwise be excluded from private sector tools. The lesson is clear: when innovation is paired with public infrastructure, it amplifies resilience at scale.

This is not to say private enterprise lacks a role. Startups can refine hyperlocal forecasts, companies can build complementary data-gathering hardware, and multinationals can deploy AI expertise. But the Indian case shows that governments must ensure that access to life-saving forecasts is universal, not market-driven.

Global Lessons from India

India’s AI-powered adaptation offers lessons for the world, especially for countries grappling with agricultural vulnerabilities. First, open-source technology is essential. By removing barriers to entry, it enables broader participation in climate adaptation. Second, localization matters. Forecasts must be translated into actionable insights relevant to specific crops and geographies. Third, collaboration is key. Governments, universities, and technology companies each bring unique strengths, but only together can they deliver at scale.

These lessons are particularly urgent given the fragility of weather data infrastructure elsewhere. In the United States, cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Trump administration raised alarms about data availability. If even wealthy nations face gaps, the case for collaborative, open-source, AI-driven forecasting grows stronger.

Risks and Responsibilities

Of course, AI is not a panacea. Its models are only as good as the data that trains them. Historical rainfall data may not always capture the novel extremes of a warming climate. Moreover, over-reliance on AI could create new vulnerabilities if forecasts fail. A missed prediction in the midst of climate chaos could have devastating consequences.

There are also ethical questions. Who owns the data collected from farmers? How is it used, and who profits from it? Ensuring that AI remains a tool for empowerment, rather than exploitation, will require transparent governance and safeguards.

Yet, these risks should not obscure the promise. The alternative—leaving millions of farmers to navigate increasingly erratic weather armed only with intuition and tradition—is untenable.

A Future of Climate Adaptation Powered by AI

India’s AI-driven monsoon forecasting initiative embodies a broader truth: climate adaptation requires innovation at scale, grounded in inclusivity. By bringing cutting-edge technology to the fingertips of the world’s most vulnerable farmers, India has shown how artificial intelligence can serve as a bridge between global scientific advances and local survival strategies.

The monsoon will remain fickle, and climate change will continue to amplify uncertainty. But with AI as an ally, India’s farmers have gained not just forecasts, but foresight. And in the struggle against climate change, foresight may be the most precious resource of all. (One World Outlook)

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South Asia is facing a sharp rise in extreme weather, with nearly 90 per cent of the population expected to be exposed to intense heat and more than one in five people at risk of severe flooding by 2030, according to a new World Bank report.

The report, which lays out policy reforms that would help households and firms adapt to increasingly frequent and damaging weather events, further states that with public budgets under pressure, much of the adaptation effort will need to come from the private sector. 

Released today, From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia, finds that awareness of climate risk is high. More than 60 per cent of households and firms have experienced extreme weather in the last five years, and more than 75 per cent expect it for the next decade. Many households and businesses are already taking steps to adapt to climate risks. Around 80 per cent of households and 63 per cent of firms have taken some measures to adapt. However, most of these measures are basic, such as raising house foundations or installing fans. More advanced options, like using climate-resilient seeds or relocating from high-risk areas, remain less common.

“The urgency is growing. People and firms are already adapting, but they are doing so with limited tools and few resources,” said Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for South Asia. “Governments must act quickly to remove the barriers that prevent more effective adaptation. This includes removing distortions in land and labour markets, expanding access to finance and investing in public infrastructure to support people and businesses as they respond to climate risks.”

The report finds that market barriers and income constraints are holding back stronger adaptation. Households with more education or access to formal finance are more likely to adopt advanced strategies. Similarly, better-managed firms with fewer regulatory barriers tend to be more adaptive. Removing these barriers would enable more effective adaptation by households and firms.

“Private sector adaptation could reduce one-third of the region’s projected climate damage, but this requires governments to strengthen enabling environments,” said Franziska Ohnsorge, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia. “Adaptation is most effective when markets function well and when essential services like transport, water, healthcare, and digital connectivity are widely accessible.”

The report calls for both targeted adaptation efforts and broader development measures that also build climate resilience. Governments have a critical role to play, even with limited fiscal space. They can expand access to localised climate information, promote weather-indexed insurance, and support the use of resilient technologies such as energy-efficient cooling systems. Public investments in infrastructure that keep people safe and connected, such as roads, drainage, power supply, and mobile networks, are also essential.

In Bangladesh, investments in early warning systems and cyclone shelters have helped reduce fatalities during major storms. In India, cities like Ahmedabad are leading with heat action plans to protect urban populations from rising temperatures. They demonstrate how targeted investments and effective institutions can help scale up local adaptation successfully.

The report calls for policy action guided by three core principles. First, implement a comprehensive package of adaptation measures. Second, prioritize solutions that support both development and climate resilience. Third, align adaptation strategies with long-term development goals to ensure lasting progress. Governments in South Asia can best build resilience by creating the conditions that empower households and firms to adapt. (Newswire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has applauded Indonesia for initiating the Global Blended Finance Alliance during the 10th World Water Forum. 

Taking to ‘X’, the President said Sri Lanka proposes using the $9.4 Billion from the Global Blended Finance fund and introducing a 10% levy on profits from global tax havens, estimated at $1.4 Trillion annually. 

He further said that enforcement would involve sanctions similar to those imposed on Russian banks when they fail to implement the levy, ensuring these funds support vital climate adaptation and mitigation projects.

President Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is excited to be a pioneering member of the Global Blended Financial Alliance, an initiative aimed at addressing common financial challenges faced by countries in managing water resources. 

“As we face worsening climate crises that threaten our water supplies, our commitment to both mitigation and adaptation measures has never been stronger.

“We are seeing a worrying trend: financial support from the Global North is dwindling, political will is fading post-Glasgow COP, and climate denial is on the rise in the West. 

“The results of the upcoming Global Financing Pact summit are more crucial than ever but remain uncertain, largely influenced by the upcoming US Presidential Elections and shifting global politics,” he said.

President Wickremesinghe further revealed that Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projects need $6.7 Trillion by 2030 and $22 Trillion by 2058, with a $194-366 Billion annual funding gap. 

“Yet, funds are more readily directed to conflicts like in Ukraine, overshadowing the urgent need for climate resilience,” he said.

The President explained that to help close funding gaps, Sri Lanka launched the Tropical Belt Initiative at COP28, which zeroes in on protecting natural ecosystems like forests and mangroves. (Newswire)

I applaud Indonesia for initiating the Global Blended Finance Alliance during the G20. Sri Lanka is excited to be a pioneering member. As we face worsening climate crises that threaten our water supplies, our commitment to both mitigation and adaptation measures has never been… pic.twitter.com/kCnqQZLovZ

— Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) May 21, 2024

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Sri Lankan-born American Conservation Scientist M. Sanjayan has been featured among the 2023 Climate Leaders on Technology by Time100 Climate.

M. Sanjayan is a conservation scientist, writer and television news contributor, specializing in the role of nature in preserving and enhancing human life.

He is the Chief Executive officer at Conservation International, a global conservation organization working to protect the nature people around the world rely on for food, fresh water, and livelihoods.

Sanjayan’s skills as a science communicator have helped Conservation International facilitate powerful partnerships for environmental protection. 

The organization created the Restore Fund in 2021 alongside Apple, which this year pledged $200 million in additional funding to support nature-based carbon removal technologies.

Following is the interview of Conservation Scientist M. Sanajayan featured by Time100 Climate;

What sustainability effort do you hope will gain popularity with the general public this year, and why?

What we eat and drink is a daily need. Yet much of what we consume and enjoy is threatened by climate change and, often, a leading cause of emissions. This connection between families, farmers, big agriculture, and retail offers an imperative and opportunity to engage everyone. Companies are increasingly linking food production with the protection of nature. For example, some are using conservation to increase fish stocks and putting a percentage of revenue into marine protected areas, or they are working to link palm oil production with rainforest protection. But for these efforts to go mainstream, we need pressure from consumers like you and me.

What is a climate technology that isn’t getting the attention or funding it deserves?

There is a carbon capture tool that is well studied, immediately scalable, and boasts a 3.5-billion-year record of success: photosynthesis. We cannot plant and restore our way out of the climate crisis, but we also cannot afford to ignore nature. Around one quarter of emissions come from deforestation and land degradation. Until we cease our war on nature, we have no chance of reaching net zero — yet nature-based work receives a tiny fraction of climate finance. As scientists gain insight into the carbon cycle, we’re discovering new ways to turbocharge nature’s ability to capture and accelerate atmospheric carbon removals while providing many benefits to communities.

Where should climate activism go in the next year?

Climate activism should look south. Rich countries do not have the moral currency nor the financial flexibility to dictate to the Global South. Remember who caused this problem and continues to lead the world in per capita emissions. We cannot craft solutions that may work for us and expect others to follow in a multi-polar, desperate, and crowded world. Take carbon capture technologies, for example. Where do you think the factories or devices will be built? Who do you think will get even richer from these technologies? These innovations are necessary but will not immediately create jobs, wealth, or benefits in the Global South. Similar to the independence movement of the mid-20th century, we are seeing increased agency amongst “developing nations” to demand action on climate change. Solutions must address Global South exigencies. They must be justice-oriented and resilient.

Watch interview : https://shorturl.at/cER24  (NewsWire / Time100 Climate)

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Ongoing China’s mega development projects in the South Asia region are impacting the climate and environment, experts raised concerns.

In the 52nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, organised by the Organisation for Poverty Alleviation and Development and European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), experts highlighted the construction of highways, buildings and dams in Gilgit Baltistan by China under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project.

Talking about the impact, Myra MacDonald, a former journalist and an author said, “My focus is, yeah, ultimately China is spending billions of dollars, you know, building the CPEC project, which passes through Pakistan, which is also a disputed area. And as far as the climate is concerned, it passes through the Himalayan.”

“Well, I think the main point is that we need to look at the rise in climate change and how unpredictable it’s becoming. And if you consider the Carico room has amongst the biggest glaciers in the world, then when they start to melt or in unpredictable ways, we’re going to see a lot of flashes, more than we already see. Flash floods, and landslides, create a very difficult environment. And what I would argue is that these giant infrastructure projects that are being built are neither resilient to the unpredictability of the climate change that’s coming up, nor particularly economically viable,” she added.

Myra believes that Gilgit Baltistan faces a big risk to end up with as the region is already suffering from climate change and is geologically unstable.

“I make the same argument a bit about the diamond Bashadam that is going to displace maybe more than 30,000 people. Sometimes the numbers are bigger. It’s not clear to me at a time of accelerating climate change in that region, that it’s actually the best thing to do to address the needs of either the people of Gilgit Baltistan or even the people of Pakistan. I should also mention that China is not paying for it, she said.

Tim Foxley, a Research Fellow at EFSAS, who worked for the British Ministry of Defence, SIPRI and RUSI highlighted the Chinese close ties with the Taliban government and its intention to explore oil and minerals from the region.

“We know that the Chinese in January signed a deal for petrol exploration in Northern Afghanistan, and we know they have been talking to the Taliban about reactivating the copper mine in Logar province, so we haven’t seen a lot of activity yet but inevitability these big projects raises environmental concerns like deforestation, displacement of population, water and soil pollution”, Tim Foxley told ANI.

He added, “So if we look at wider across the BRI impact in Asia, we see a whole lot of these problems. So, we need to be very careful of what Chinese may or may not do when they sign contracts and deals in Afghanistan”. (ANI)

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