In this issue

Global cooperation and engagement is critical, as climate change and natural hazards continue to threaten the most vulnerable.

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Climate change – “a serious challenge to human existence”
by Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina

Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, addressed 16th World Meteorological Congress in Geneva, 16 May 2011. She spoke about an issue she described as “very close to my heart” – climate change.
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Managing water resources with climate information
by Bruce Stewart

The need for long-term historical climate information and products is as important as ever. Advances in the science of seasonal climate prediction have created significant potential for this science to contribute to improved water resources management practices. Improved collaboration between the two sectors can only be beneficial.
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Understanding user needs for climate services in agriculture
by Michele Bernardi

Climate is both a resource and a hazard. By harnessing climate information and services for decision-makers, the agriculture sector will be better placed to provide food for a more crowded and increasingly urban world.
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Meteorology and the energy sector - a WMO perspective

Meteorology encompasses the science of both weather and climate. The energy sector has diverse requirements for meteorological services to support decision-making for both day-to-day operations and for longer-term strategic planning.
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Improving availability, access and use of climate information
by Tufa Dinku, Kidane Asefa, Kinfe Hilemariam,
David Grimes and Stephen Connor

Climate variability and change are serious challenges to sustainable development in Africa. The current famine crisis in the Horn of Africa is yet another reminder of how fluctuations in the climate can destroy lives and livelihoods. Ethiopia, one of the countries impacted by the current drought, has been suffering from climate fluctuations for decades.
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Climate mosaic

The Climate Mosaic photo series is a thought provoking reflection on climate change. With their juxtaposition of striking images and unlikely situations, the photos are meant to stimulate debate and possibly raise some questions on a personal level.
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Laying the foundations for climate science
An interview with Taroh Matsuno

WMO presented its most prestigious award to Professor Taroh Matsuno of Japan during the 16th World Meteorological Congress, held from 16 May to 3 June 2011. The award recognizes his contributions to the progress of studies on climate change.
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From observations to service delivery: Challenges and opportunities
by Adrian Simmons

How observations are processed is vital to the provision of monitoring and forecasting services for weather, air quality and climate.
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Making climate services more effective
by Sofia Bettencourt

As demand for climate services diversifies, many institutions have become involved, fragmenting service delivery and rendering it more susceptible to vested interests.
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Reducing disaster risk in cities — the Republic of Korea’s experience
by Glenn Dolcemascolo, Yongkyun Kim and Teh-Lan Linda Mu

Our ability to reduce disaster risk relies on the full engagement of local governments. When national and local governments work together, they can be a formidable alliance for risk reduction.
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Making cities resilient
by the Secretariat of the United Nations Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

Disaster risk is an escalating problem in urban areas where population and economic assets are concentrated. A campaign launched in May 2010 has created a global network of local governments committed to reducing risk and building more resilient cities.
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