India participated as co-chair at the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in May 2025. India currently chairs the RIMES Council, signifying its leadership in regional climate resilience and disaster preparedness efforts.
Key Highlights
- Event: 4th RIMES Ministerial Conference
- Date & Venue: May 2025, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Host Country: Government of Sri Lanka
- Supported by:
- World Bank (through CARE Component 1)
- UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Conference Theme: “Actionable Climate Services and Early Warnings for All”
- India’s Role:
- Co-Chair of the conference
- Chair of the RIMES Council
- Expressed readiness to host the proposed RIMES Regional Centre
Major Outcomes and Decisions
- Declaration on Disaster Preparedness:
- Unanimously adopted by all member countries
- Reinforces regional cooperation for disaster risk reduction and early warning dissemination
- RIMES Master Plan 2026–2030 adopted for implementation under the WMO-RIMES Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP)
- Council Meeting: Chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (India), who finalized the draft Ministerial Declaration
Conference Objectives
- Deepen Implementation of World Bank-supported initiatives like:
- CARE Component 1
- SAHF (South Asia Hydromet Forum)
- Expand their best practices across Africa, Central Asia, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific
- Financial Instruments:
- Explore funding support for RIMES services through:
- National budgets of member governments
- Donor institution financing
- Explore funding support for RIMES services through:
- Formalize Future Direction:
- Adopt and implement the RIMES Master Plan 2026–2030
- Strengthen alignment with WMO-RIMES JSAP
- Contribute to UN’s Early Warning for All Initiative
About RIMES (Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System)
| Feature | Details |
| Type | Intergovernmental body |
| Purpose | Provides early warning services, disaster risk reduction strategies, and capacity building to member states |
| Origin | Initiated post 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami |
| Established | 30 April 2009 (registered with UN on 1 July 2009) |
| Headquarters | Pathumthani, Thailand (Asian Institute of Technology Campus) |
| Membership | 22 Member States, 26 Collaborating States |
| Focus Areas | Multi-hazard early warning, regional cooperation, actionable climate services |
India’s Role and Commitment
- Currently chairs the RIMES Council
- Co-chaired the 4th Ministerial Conference
- Offered to host the RIMES Regional Centre in India
- Reaffirmed commitment to:
- “Early Warning for All” program
- Climate risk management and regional cooperation