World Meteorological Organization Working together in weather, climate and water

1. World Meteorological OrganizationWorking together in weather, climate and water WMO Report by the president of RA IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) Sixteenth World Meteorological Congress Cg – XVI / Doc. 2.4 Geneva, Switzerland, May 2011

2. Membership and officers in RA IV WMO • During the period under consideration, RA IV continued to have 26 Members. • Mr. Carlos Fuller (Belize) and Mr. Arthur Rolle (Bahamas) served as presidents of the Association. • Mr. Paulo Manso (Costa Rica) and Ms. Luz Graciela de Calzadilla (Panama) served as vice-presidents of the Association.

3. Working Groups, Rapporteurs and Regional Task Teams in RA IV • The Fifteenth Session of RA IV (Nassau Bahamas, 24 April-1 May 2009) decided to improve the working system as follows: • A Management Group, which will create Task Teams, as required • TheHurricane Committee is maintained

4. Main activities in RA IV • Development of the Strategic Plan (2010-2013) for the Enhancement of the NMHSs in RA IV based on the previous RA IV Strategic Plan and taking into account the WMO Strategic Plan, the WMO Secretariat Operating Plan 2008–2011 and suggestions from Members of the Region; • Continuation of the Meeting of Directors of Ibero-american Countriesof RA III and RA IV with annual Action Plans adopted and approved for the Ibero-american Climate Project (CLIBER), funded by Spain. • Conducted assessments of national and regional capacities, needs and priorities for strengthening hydro-meteorological risk assessment and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in partnership with disaster risk management agencies through national consultations and regional multi-stakeholder forums

5. Main activities in RA IV • Implementation of the Radar Networking System Project in 2009, with four new radars in Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Trinidad, supported by the European Union, under the coordination of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), for early warnings on hurricanes and severe weather conditions in the Caribbean area; • Revision of the Technical and Operational Plans of the Hurricane Committee during its annual meetings (30th to 33rd), in Orlando (United States of America), Nassau (Bahamas), Hamilton (Bermuda) and Grand Cayman (BCT);

6. Main activities in RA IV • Establishment of a Task Team to coordinate the different actions and efforts to help Haiti after the earthquake in January 2010, providing immediate assistance including forecast guidance, a set of seven new GSM enabled Automatic Weather Stations through VCP funds, two EMWIN systems and a flash flood guidance system and a public web page. • The active participation of Canada, Dominican Republic, France, United States and United Kingdom. • 2008 by the joint WMO/Spain AEMET Mission to Haiti focused on an Early Warning System Proposal served as a useful reference basis for the Task Team. • WMO also coordinated with other UN Agencies to link with the operational mechanism in emergency preparedness and response on the ground and leverage capacities

7. Priorities of RA IV • Enhancement of the capacity building and availability of university-level educationopportunities for meteorological personnel • Revised plans of ICAO for the implementation of a recognized Quality Management System for meteorological services to civil aviation

8. Priorities of RA IV • Strengthening of national and regional meteorological, hydrological and climate services to support risk assessment and multi-hazard early warning systems and development of operational cooperation of NMHS with disaster risk management agencies and socio-economic sectors. • Continue working with regional intergovernmental organizations and use of regional forums to reflect role of NMHS and WMO in the regional strategies for disaster risk reduction and adaptation, and; raise policy-makers’ awareness.

9. Report by the president of RA IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) Thank you