Daily news: 7 December 2012

During COP 18 in Doha, 26 November to 7 December 2012, around 33 Directors of Hydrometeorological Services and Permanent Representatives, among which the third Vice-President of WMO as well as the Presidents of Regional Associations IV, V and VI were attending this Conference. Furthermore, around 130 delegates from 60 NMHSs were accompanying their national delegation at COP 18. There were also meteorological and climate experts in the composition of delegations from intergovernmental organizations and research centres such as African Centre of Meteorological Application and Development (ACMAD), AGRHYMET, East African Community, League of Arab States, Chinese Academy of Agrometeorological Sciences and the UK Met Office Hadley Centre.

Doha climate conference welcomes WMO actions

The World Meteorological Organization’s contributions to international cooperation on climate change were recognized in three decisions adopted last Saturday by the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In these decisions:

The COP noted with appreciation the outcome of the Extraordinary Session of the World Meteorological Congress, held in Geneva in October 2012 regarding the further implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services. The GFCS aims to strengthen the production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services. Research and systematic observation - Draft conclusions proposed by the Chair.

The COP recognized the relevance of the GFCS to its decision on "Approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change to enhance adaptive capacity". It further recognized (i) the need to strengthen international cooperation and expertise in order to understand and reduce loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including impacts related to extreme weather events and slow onset events; (ii) the importance of the systematic observation of climate change impacts; and (iii) the need to enhance access to hydrological and other data needed to assess and manage climate-related risk.

The COP adopted the eight-year Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention. Article 6 commits governments to promote and facilitate education, public awareness and training in the field of climate change. The COP decision recognizes WMO and five other UN bodies as members of the United Nations Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness. WMO brings to the Alliance its invaluable networks of experts and of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services as well as a number of relevant programmes.

WMO’s presence was also felt at the conference through the launches of its reports on atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases in 2011 and on the climate trends and events experienced so far in 2012. These reports received a great deal of press coverage and were widely cited during the conference as providing clear evidence of the need for action on climate change. WMO also organized an exhibit and participated in a variety of side events. Furthermore, a number of decisions by the subsidiary bodies to the COP recognized and welcomed WMO’s work.