Frequently asked questions

1. What is World Climate Conference-3?

Organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and various partners, World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), which is being held from 31 August to 4 September 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, aims to advance the development of climate services and to enhance their application to socio-economic planning. The focus is on climate predictions from days to 50 years out—seasonal to multidecadal— for adapting to climate variability and change and managing associated risks.

2. What is the difference between climate variability and climate change?

Climate change generally refers to the long-term change in average weather conditions at the global level. The WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed that the overall climate change trend is one of increasing global average surface temperatures. Within any given day, month or year, however, variations in the weather occur at regional and local levels. This climate variability can take the form of natural hazards, such as floods, drought, cold- and heatwaves, cyclones and storms. Such extremes are related to climate change, however: the IPCC predicts that a number of weather and climate extremes will become more frequent and/or intense as a result of increased global surface temperatures. Although no single extreme event signals climate change, over time, it can become part of a pattern of increased climate variability due to climate change.

3. How does WCC-3 differ from, and contribute to, other climate conferences?

Many recent and future climate meetings aim to coordinate global actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to define adaptation strategies. These efforts are important for slowing climate change and adapting to the anticipated impacts, but many climate impacts are already here. WCC-3 focuses on efforts to manage climate-related risks and opportunities. It will address the need to better understand, predict and cope now with climate variability and change through the application of reliable climate information to decision-making.

WCC-3 occurs just before the 15th meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December, where countries plan to reach a post-Kyoto global mitigation strategy. It is expected that WCC-3 will contribute to the provision of scientific knowledge necessary for post-Kyoto actions and UN initiatives for adaptation. Moreover, any mitigation strategy requires reliable baseline information about the state of the climate.

4. Who will be attending WCC-3?

WCC-3 will bring together high-level policy-makers, scientists, climate service providers and global business leaders and decision-makers. Approximately 1 000 people are expected to attend. An important goal is to increase interaction between those who develop and provide climate information and those who use the information. These end-users include decision- and policy-makers working in nearly every socio-economic sector: food and agriculture, water, health, disaster preparedness and risk management, environment, tourism, transport and energy, among others. The High-;evel Segment, 3 September-4 September, will attract heads of State and Government, ministers and other senior policy-makers.

5. What are the expected outcomes of WCC-3?

The primary expected outcome of WCC-3 is a global framework for climate services to ensure availability of climate information to decision-makers in the timeframe ranging from seasons to decades. To this aim, the Conference is structured in a Expert Segment (31 August- 2 September 2009), during which scientists and decision-makers will elaborate on white papers on the state of affairs of climate services and on the needs of users. A High-level Segment will follow (3–4 September 2009), during which global actions will be discussed and a Declaration will be adopted. The Conference also aims to increase investment in climate observations and monitoring and applied science to enhance availability of user-oriented climate information and services.

6. What are some examples of how climate information can help people?

Climate predictions that show the timing and quantity of precipitation in a given area provide advance warning of malaria epidemics far ahead of the rainy season. This allows the optimized allocation of resources to prevent and treat malaria.

Drought monitoring efforts use climate information and modelling to warn of changing rainfall and soil conditions that affect agricultural production. With advance warning, farmers can adjust planting dates, crop varieties and irrigation strategies.

Climate information provides advance warning for other weather extremes, including floods and wildfires, enabling early warning and action to prevent natural hazards from becoming disasters. Science-based disaster risk reduction has a high return for investments: one dollar invested in disaster preparedness can save seven dollars’ worth of disaster-related economic losses.

7. What have past World Climate Conferences achieved?

The first two World Climate Conferences were revolutionary in their impacts. The first World Climate Conference in 1979 led to the establishment of the World Climate Programme, the World Climate Research Programme and the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPCC—endeavours that have all raised awareness and scientific understanding of climate variability and change. The second World Climate Conference in 1990 added decisive momentum to global climate discussions, increasing political will and commitment to the issue through the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Global Climate Observing System.

8. Who is organizing WCC-3?

WMO, the UN system’s authoritative voice on weather, climate and water, is organizing the Conference through an International Organizing Committee, with other UN Agencies and Programmes, international partners, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and the private sector. The Conference is being hosted by Switzerland at the Geneva International Conference Centre.

9. How is it being funded?

WMO has established a trust fund to facilitate contributions for the organization of the Conference. As of 15 May 2009, contributions and commitments have been received from the Governments of Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Namibia, Norway, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States of America, as well as the European Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme

10. How can I learn more?

Visit the WCC-3 Web site at www.wmo.int/wcc3 for information on how to register, the latest Conference news, important deadlines, the preliminary programme and guidelines.

For more information:

Buruhani Nyenzi, Director, WCC-3 Secretariat

Tel: +41 22 730 8273, E-mail: WCC-3[at]wmo.int

Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, WMO

Tel: +41 22 730 83 14/15, E-mail: cpa[at]wmo.int

Lisa M.P. Munoz, Press Officer, Communications and Public Affairs, WMO

Tel: +41 22 730 82 13, E-mail: lmunoz[at]wmo.int

WMO is promoting a climate-neutral WCC-3. The United Nations assigns climate neutrality to an organization or event that has a zero net contribution to the atmosphere of all greenhouse gases identified in the Kyoto Protocol. For more, visit: http://www.wmo.int/wcc3.