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Add to Preferred SourcesThe World Meteorological Congress meets from 3 to 14 June to agree on future strategy and tools to help countries increase resilience to extreme weather, water, climate and other environmental shocks, to strengthen scientific observations and predictions and to close the capacity gap.
The Congress takes place every four years and decides on the strategy, policies, standards, budget and office holders of the 193-member World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This year it will discuss a sweeping reform of WMO’s governance structures to address major risks and meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Other items on the agenda include strengthening the observation network which underpins all forecasts; improved weather and climate services in an era of climate change and more extreme weather; hydrological services and support of sustainable water management; integrated Earth systems science; facilitating capacity development; engagement with the private sector and data policy.
There will be a dedicated ocean dialogue, a session on scaling up development partnerships, a parallel hydrological assembly and a public-private dialogue and Meteorological Technology world expo showcasing the very latest climate, weather and hydrometeorological forecasting, measurement and analysis technologies.
The Congress is due to approve a new WMO strategic plan to achieve its overarching vision: “By 2030, a world where all nations, especially the most vulnerable, are more resilient to the socioeconomic impact of extreme weather, water, climate and other environmental events; and empowered to boost their sustainable development through the best possible services, whether over land, at sea or in the air,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
WMO seeks to ensure that all countries have access to high-quality weather and climate forecasts from designated global and regional specialized centres and have multi-hazard early warning services. WMO also develops integrated urban and health services including air quality, heat waves and other stressors.
The Congress is expected to approve a new WMO Strategic Plan for 2030.
This sets five long term goals and top overarching priorities including:
- Enhancing preparedness for, and reducing losses of life and property from hydrometeorological extremes,
- Supporting climate-smart decision making to build resilience and adaptation to climate risk,
- Enhancing socioeconomic value of weather, climate, hydrological and related environmental
In line with the strategic plan, the Congress will discuss a fundamental reform of the governance structure of WMO. The reform aims to coordinate systems of observation and data management, to standardize observations and measurements, to provide mechanisms for engaging with partners beyond the WMO community and to harmonize services for decision-making and socioeconomic benefits.
Original source: WMO
Published on 30 May 2019