Ulaanbaatar, 30 December 2024 - The ADAPT project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MOFALI), and UNDP, has reached a major milestone with the acquisition of a cutting-edge high-speed supercomputer. This transformative technology upgrade will empower the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM) to enhance its forecasting capabilities and develop advanced long-term climate models that are crucial for effective climate adaptation and disaster resilience. This milestone is a critical component of the Green Climate Fund-supported ADAPT project's broader goal of strengthening Mongolia’s efforts to adapt to climate change. It will directly contribute to the objective of integrating climate information into land and water use planning at national and sub-national levels.

The new supercomputer represents a significant leap forward in terms of computing power. It boasts a processing speed 16 times faster than the previous system, with a storage capacity that has increased 20-fold. This substantial upgrade enables NAMEM to achieve greater accuracy and spatial resolution in atmospheric modeling, providing precise weather and climate forecasts for both short- and long-term periods.

In addition to technological improvements, the ADAPT project will provide support in building human resource capacity at NAMEM. This includes training staff on advanced forecasting methods, the application of Weather Research and Forecasting models, and the optimization of post-processing techniques. These efforts will ensure that NAMEM’s personnel are fully equipped to leverage the new supercomputer’s capabilities and improve forecasting accuracy.

Mr. Battulga Erkhembayar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, emphasized the importance of this milestone and stated, "In 2011, our country introduced high-speed supercomputer technology from CRAY at NAMEM, significantly advancing weather forecasting. While crucial for daily forecasts, the system has now reached the end of its useful life, operating at less than one-third of its capacity. This new upgrade will enable NAMEM to conduct more detailed climate research and produce far more accurate long-term forecasts, meeting the growing demand for reliable data in sustainable development and climate resilience planning."

Ms. Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia, noted that “The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, driven by climate change, are evident in Mongolia, with extreme weather events becoming more common. One of the most effective ways to mitigate the impacts of such disasters is by enhancing climate and weather forecasting capabilities, developing comprehensive early warning systems, and improving preparedness and response mechanisms. And UNDP is pleased to support Mongolia on this important issue so that the country can not only better predict weather and climate patterns, enable informed decision-making and readiness for emerging climate challenges, but also integration of climate information into land and water use planning at different levels.”

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The ADAPT Project is implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, and the United Nations Development Programme, and funded by the Green Climate Fund.