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Press Release No. 804

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WMO Secretary-General says IPCC Nobel Award reinforces need to integrate science in climate change decision-making

OSLO, Norway, 10 December 2007 (WMO) – World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General, Mr Michel Jarraud, welcomed Monday’s presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Mr Al Gore, saying the honour reinforces the need to integrate science and its findings on climate change into the political decision-making process with respect to global warming. WMO is the United Nations’ authoritative voice on weather, climate and water. It hosts the IPCC, and supports and co-sponsors it along with the United Nations Environment Programme.

“Integrating science in decision-making is crucial and it is key to the negotiations taking place now in Bali,” Mr Jarraud said at the Nobel Peace Prize presentation in Oslo, Norway. “The work of the IPCC, which led to it winning the Nobel Peace Prize, has shown how vital it is for the scientific evidence on climate change, and mankind’s role in this, to be used as the basis for moving the political process on curbing climate change forward.”

“Increased investment in scientific research, climate monitoring and climate predictions will help prevent loss of lives and economic setbacks from climate change,” said Mr Jarraud. “Use of early warning systems will reduce the risks of natural disasters. The integration of reliable information in socio-economic decision-making is a prerequisite for sustainable development.”

WMO supports the IPCC process in many ways, particularly through creating the mechanisms and standards to monitor the Earth’s climate, such as WMO’s co-sponsored World Climate Research Progamme (WCRP). Most of the research supporting IPCC is carried out under the umbrella of WCRP. IPCC is analysing the set of scientific knowledge that has been produced by the WMO network of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its 188 Members.

WMO also supports the development of climate change adaptation measures that the IPCC is urging both greater investment in and implementation of. These include disaster risk reduction, proper management of fresh water resources and food security, all of which are highly sensitive to weather, water and climate change.

In terms of mitigation, WMO also plays an important role in ensuring wider use of renewable energy sources, including wind energy, hydroelectricity, solar power and bio-fuels. “Helping the world make the most effective use of renewable energy sources is a priority for WMO”, Mr Jarraud said.

WMO is the United Nations’ authoritative voice on weather, climate and water
For more information please contact:
Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, WMO.
Tel: +41 (0)22 730 83 15.

Mr Paul Garwood, Press Officer,Communications and Public Affairs, WMO.
Tel: +41 (0)22 730 8417.

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