World Climate Services Programme Climate Applications and Services

RCC Implementation in North America, Central America and the Caribbean

There has been a strong interest in the establishment of WMO RCCs in RA IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean), but concrete actions are yet to be initiated towards the implementation of RCCs. Countries in North America, namely Canada, Mexico, and the United States are moving forward with the establishment of the North America Climate Services Partnership (NACSP). The Partnership provides a mechanism for sharing data, information, concepts, and knowledge on climate services between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The NACSP can be framed as an initiative that addresses issues unique to North America and that could contribute to and complement, rather than supersede, other existing regional and global efforts including WMO RCCs.

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH; http://www.cimh.edu.bb), Bridgetown, Barbados, informally expressed its intent to serve as a WMO RCC, with the domain of interest being the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean.

Regional Climate Outlook Forums in RA IV

The Foro Regional del Clima de América Central (FCCA), the Climate Outlook Forum for Central America has been in operation for more than a decade. There is also a recent proposal to establish a Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CARICOF) in 2012, expected to be coordinated by CIMH with support from NOAA, WMO, IRI and other partners.

Top