History
Climate risks have been a major challenge for humankind for generations. Before the era of modern science, humankind observed nature to monitor and predict climate conditions, thereby taking advantage of favourable conditions and managing associated risks. Modern science and advances in climate prediction provide us with greater capability to provide useful climate prediction and information services that can help societies manage the risks and develop resilience to climate variability and change.
Climate prediction and information services provide society, governments and climate-dependent sectors with the tools to identify areas and periods of potential risks, actions to deal with the expected climate conditions, and appropriate response measures for the benefit of all.
WMO has been at the forefront of the climate agenda for the last four decades.
The First World Climate Conference organized in 1979 influenced the establishment of a number of important international scientific initiatives such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (co-sponsored by WMO and the United Nations Environment Programme), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007; the WMO World Climate Programme and the World Climate Research Programme (co-sponsored by WMO, the International Council for Science and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educations, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
The Second World Climate Conference called for the establishment of a climate convention, adding momentum to international efforts that resulted in the development of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. It also led to the establishment of the Global Climate Observing System and to recommendations for future activities of the World Climate Programme.
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