UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development Endorsed
Seamless Prediction and Services for Sustainable Natural and Built Environment (SEPRESS) Program (2025 - 2032)
Abstract
The SEPRESS initiative is tailored to strengthen trust in science by offering reliable weather and subseasonal climate prediction services. It aims to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and societal needs through an equitable and transparent "research-to-operation" (R2O) process. SEPRESS will support projects that are committed to open science principles and enhance knowledge synthesis.
The initiative is designed to develop services specifically tailored to meet the diverse needs for accurate weather and climate predictions across various sectors and regions. This approach supports sustainable development and assists communities in adapting to climate change and the escalating risks posed by natural disasters. The SEPRESS initiative places particular emphasis on empowering societies in key areas where progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains insufficient. These include human health, food security, sustainable water management, clean energy, climate action, and economic growth. Additionally, SEPRESS will foster global collaboration by bringing together countries and regions under the common cause of climate resilience and sustainable natural and built environment. This initiative will also foster a culture of sharing science and technology, allowing less developed regions to benefit directly.
The program will establish a platform to host annual forums, roundtable discussions, and field surveys, engaging a diverse array of stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, and members of the public such as farmers. Such inclusive engagement is pivotal for achieving the objectives of the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (2024-2033). By doing so, SEPRESS ensures that the benefits of improved predictive services are distributed globally, thereby enhancing resilience and advancing sustainable practices across all sectors.
Flagship Product
meteoNEX is a flagship product of the SEPRESS programme, designed to translate cutting-edge research in earth system science, climate dynamical modelling, and artificial intelligence into actionable climate intelligence.
Built upon the programme's long-term research in AI-dynamical hybrid prediction methods, meteoNEX delivers seamless weather-to-climate forecasting capabilities spanning short-range weather, sub-seasonal, and seasonal timescales, with a particular focus on the critical 2-week to 2-month forecasting window.
The system provides forecasts of key meteorological variables such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, radiation, circulation anomalies, extreme weather risks, sea ice changes, and regional climate anomalies. Through standardised data products, visualisation platforms, and API interfaces, meteoNEX makes complex climate science research accessible and applicable to a broad range of users.
