Smart Net-Zero

March 23, 2026 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) |

Published on World Meteorological Day 2026, this article highlights the critical role of climate and agrometeorological services in protecting agricultural livelihoods as extreme weather events intensify globally.  It also describes how weather and climate data are being translated into actionable guidance for farmers and governments in vulnerable regions. In Pakistan, FAO is partnering with the Pakistan Meteorological Department through a USD 47.7 million Green Climate Fund (GCF) project covering 5 million hectares, delivering farm-level advisories via WhatsApp and audio messages to help farmers anticipate floods and heat stress. Globally, FAO's Agricultural Stress Index System (ASIS) monitors satellite-based vegetation health every ten days, identifying drought hotspots in over a dozen countries before crises escalate. FAO frames climate observation not merely as data collection, but as the foundation for anticipatory action and resilience-building across food systems.