World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Overview: History, Achievements, and Future

1. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) • What is WMO ? • Brief Historical Overview • WMO’s Structure • WMO’s Programmes • Collaboration with other Organizations • Major Achievements • Role of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) • Long-term Plan • Challenges and Future Perspectives WMO/OMM

2. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Set up on 23 March 1950 Successor to International Meteorological Organization (IMO, created in 1873) Specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences. UN system’s authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources. WMO/OMM

3. The United Nations System International Court of Justice Economic and Social Council General Assembly Security Council Trusteeship Council Secretariat • Main and other sessional committees • Standing committees and ad-hoc bodies • Other subsidiary organs and related bodies • Military Staff Committe • Standing committees and ad-hoc bodies • ILO • FAO • UNESCO • WHO World Bank Group • IBRD • IDA • IFC • MIGA • IMF • ICAO • UPU • ITU • WMO World Meteorological Organization • IMO • WIPO • IFAD • UNIDO • WTO • UNTSO • UNMOGIP • UNFICYP • UNDOF • UNIFIL • UNIKOM • UNAVEM II • ONUSAL • MINURSO • UNPROFOR • UNOSOM II • UNOMIG • UNOMIL • UNMIH • UNAMIR • UNMOT • UNRWA • IAEA • INSTRAW • UNCHS • UNCTAD • UNDCP • UNDP • UNEP • UNFPA • UNHCR • UNICEF • UNIFEM • UNITAR • UNU • WFC • WFP • ITC • FUNCTIONAL COMMISIONS • REGIONAL COMMISSIONS • SESSIONAL AND STANDING COMMITTEES • EXPERT, AD-HOC AND RELATED BODIES • UN programmes and organs (representative list only) • Specialized agencies and other autonomous organizations within the system • Other commissions, committees and ad-hoc related bodies WMO/OMM

4. Purposes of WMO Promote and foster meteorology and hydrologyand related geophysical sciences and to facilitate world-wide co-operation for the benefit of humankind : • Networks for meteorological / hydrological and other geophysical observations • Standardization of observations and publications • Development of operational hydrology • Systems for processing and rapid exchange of data • Applications for socio-economic development (transportation, water issues, agriculture, oceans, pollution control, etc), environment protection and policy formulation • Disaster prevention and mitigation • Research and training WMO/OMM

5. Brief Historical Overview Origin and First Years of WMO • August 1853 (Brussels) : First International Meteorological Conference • September 1873 (Vienna) : International Meteorological Organization (IMO) created as a non-governmental body • February 1946 (London) : Extraordinary Conference of Directors of National Meteorological Services (NMSs) • September 1947 (Washington) : Conference of Directors,WMO Convention voted unanimously • 23 March 1950 : Entry into force of WMO Convention • December 1951 : Specialized agency of UN WMO/OMM

6. “You, who are Meteorologists, will be called upon to play a far more important role than you have ever played before in human affairs” British Minister Strachey, addressing the Extraordinary Conference of Directors of National Meteorological Services London, 1946 WMO/OMM

7. Evolution of WMO - A brief review IN THE FIFTIES • Agreement on common procedures and technical regulations • Arrangement of prompt exchange of data between nations • Organizing technical assistance • Refinement of services provided, especially to shipping and aviation • IN THE SIXTIES • Advent of new technologies especially meteorological satellites and fast computers • - Improved real data coverage • - Greater understanding of physical processes • - Operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) • Establishment of • - World Weather Watch Programme (WWW) • - Operational Hydrology Programme • - Voluntary Assistance Programme (now VCP) WMO/OMM

8. Evolution of WMO - A brief review IN THE SEVENTIES • Increase in concern for the environmental and possible change in world climate • First GARP Global Experiment (WMO and ICSU) • First World Climate Conference (1979) IN THE EIGHTIES • Consolidation of National Services to take up new challenges • Global initiatives on a broader spectrum of activities (climate change, ozone convention and environmental issues) • Establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) WMO/OMM

9. Evolution of WMO - A brief review IN THENINETIES AND EARLY 21st CENTURY • Second World Climate Conference • Establishment of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) • Climate Agenda • Establishment of - Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Programme - WMO Space Programme WMO/OMM

10. Structure of WMO 187 Members (November 2003) It functions through its constituent bodies • CONGRESS • EXECUTIVE COUNCIL • REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS • TECHNICAL COMMISSIONS Secretariat Headquarters: Geneva Regional Offices: Asia and South-West Pacific (Geneva), Africa (Burundi), The Americas (Paraguay) Sub-regional Offices: Kenya/Nigeria (RA I), Costa Rica (RA IV), Samoa (RA V), Geneva(RA VI) WMO/OMM

11. Organizational Structure of WMO CONGRESS ExecutiveCouncil Regional Associations Technical Commissions Working Groups Rapporteurs Working Groups Rapporteurs Other Bodies JSC-WCRP , IPCC JSTC-GCOS Working Groups Panel of Experts Secretary-General Secretariat WMO/OMM

12. Congress • The supreme body of the Organization • The general assembly of delegates representing Members • Meets every four years • Officers • - President of WMO • - Three Vice-Presidents of WMO • - Presidents of Regional Associations WMO/OMM

13. Congress - Functions • Review of WMO Programmes • Approval of Programmes and Budget for next financial period • Amendment of Convention and General Regulations • Election of President and Vice-Presidents, other members of the Executive Council • Appointment of the Secretary-General • Other policy-related matters WMO/OMM

14. Executive Council • The executive bodyof the Organization • Responsible for the co-ordination of the programmes of the Organization • Composed of 37members who are Permanent Representatives of Members with WMO and who are Directors of National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services • Meets annually WMO/OMM

15. Executive Council Functions • Implement the decisions by Congress or those reached by correspondence • Administer the finances of the Organization • Examine the programme and budge (biennial) • Consider action taken on resolutions and recommendations •        Provide advice on WMO activities •        Study and make recommendations •         Prepare agenda for Congress •         Report on its activities to Congress WMO/OMM

16. Regional Associations Regional Associations are established by Congress, and are composed of the Members of the Organization, the networks of which lie in or extend into specific geographical areas named “Regions” to: • Promote co-operation between Members on matters affecting the work of NMHSs • Encourage the development of meteorological, hydrological and related disciplines • Promote the decisions of Congress and the Executive Council in their respective regions • Meet normally once every four years WMO/OMM

17. Regional Associations R.A. VI Europe (49 Members) R.A. IV North America, Central America And the Caribbean (25 Members) R.A. II Asia (35 Members) R.A. I Africa (56 Members) R.A. V South-West Pacific (22 Members) R.A.III South America (13 Members) WMO/OMM

18. Technical Commissions Technical Commissions are established by Congress and are composed of technical experts designated by Members of the Organization to: • Study and review advances in science and technology • Develop technical regulations, guides and manuals • Carry out matters relating to the planning, implementation and evaluation of the scientific and technical activities of the Organization • Provide a forum for resolution of relevant scientific and technical issues • Promote training and transfer of technology • Keep Members informed and constituent bodies advised • Meet once every four years WMO/OMM

19. Technical Commissions Basic Commissions • Commission for Basic Systems (CBS) • Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observations (CIMO) • Commission for Hydrology (CHy) • Commission for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS) Applications Commissions • Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) • Commission for Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) • JointWMO/IOC technicalCommission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) • Commission for Climatology (CCl) WMO/OMM

20. WMO Programmes World Weather Watch Programme WMO Space Programme Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Programme Atmospheric Research and Environment Programme Hydrology and Water Resources Programme Applications of Meteorology Programme World Climate Programme Education and Training Programme Technical Cooperation Programme Regional Programme WMO/OMM

21. Collaboration with other Organizations • Foster close co-operation between WMO and other Organizations so as to facilitate the effective attainment of the objectives set forth in their respective conventions • Consult each other regularly on matters of common interest • Keep each other informed on programmes of work, projected activities and publications in which there may be mutual interest • Permit the participation of each organization in those sessions and meetings of the other organization which relates to items of common interest Agreements / Working Arrangements with over 40 Organizations (regional and global) Memorandum of Understanding with a number of other Organizations WMO/OMM

22. Some Major Achievements • Improvement in the range and accuracy of weather forecasts, early warnings and seasonal prediction (El Niño) • Mitigation of natural disasters (collaboration with ISDR) • Climate issues and climate prediction (Climate Agenda, UNFCCC, UNCCD,etc.) • Protection of environment such as Ozone monitoring and assessment (Vienna Convention) • Assessment and management of water resources • Support to World Summits (UNCED, WSSD) WMO/OMM

23. Role of NMHSs (Basic) • Observing and understanding weather, climate and water resources as well as in providing meteorological, hydrological and related services in support of national needs such as: • Protection of life and property • Safeguarding the environment • Contributing to national security and sustainable development • Promotion of endogenous capacity building • Meeting international and regional commitments including support to WMO’s Programmes and activities • Contributing to international and regional cooperation WMO/OMM

24. Long-term Planning WMOuses an integrated planning and monitoring system that operates on three different overlapping time scales • Long-term plans (for eight years, revised every four years) which set out the main objectiveswhich the Organization and its Members seek to attain and the overall policies, strategies and prioritiesfor achieving them • Medium-term plans (for four years, the beginning being coincident with that of each revised Long-term Plan), corresponding to the financial period of the Organization, and providing the detailed budget for the first four yearsof the Long-term Plan • Short-term plans (for two years) which are in very specific terms and correspond with the biennial budget WMO/OMM

25. WMO’s High Priority Actions • Improved protection of life and property including safety on land, at sea and in the air • Enhanced quality of life • Sustainable economic growth • Assessment and management of water resources • Protection of the environment • Enhanced WMO’s effectiveness • Contribution to sustainable development WMO/OMM

26. Challenges and Future Perspectives • Contribute to the advancement and application of atmospheric and hydrological sciences and new technologies • Assist Members in strengthening NMHSs to meet national, regional and global needs • Ensure coordination in meteorology and operational hydrology at the international level and support similar efforts by NMHSs at the national level • Contribute to addressing socio-economic sustainable development challenges WMO/OMM

27. WMO VISION To provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and water resources, and related environmental issues, and thereby to contribute to the safety and well being of people throughout the world and to the economic benefit of all nations WMO/OMM

28. “WMO IS THE ORIGINAL NETWORKER……THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE ROLE OF WMO WILL BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN FUTURE.” Kofi Annan Secretary-GeneralUnited Nations WMO/OMM

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