World Meteorological Congress

World Meteorological Congress

Subject – Environment

Context – World Meteorological Congress calls for international cooperation in meteorology, climatology, operational hydrology

Concept –

• Weather, climate and the water cycle are oblivious to national borders and so global cooperation in the domains of meteorology, climatology and operational hydrology is crucial.
• In 2021, both the developed and developing world witnessed record-breaking extreme weather events.
• Weather4UN, a pilot project led by MeteoSwiss and supported by the Swiss Federal Council, aims to improve the coordination of meteorological data production and transmission within the United Nations system and for humanitarian organisations around the world.
  • As a result of this initiative, early action can be taken and people will be better protected from extreme weather events.
• In the last five decades (1970-2019), the number of disasters increased five times, stated WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
  • These have been attributed to climate change, more extreme weather and improved reporting.
• Water-related hazards top the list of disasters in terms of both the human and economic toll over the past 50 years, according to Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes (1970–2019) released by the WMO September 2021.
• India experienced the second-wettest September in 27 years in 2021. June (the onset month) and September experienced higher-than-normal rainfall this year.
• But many countries, particularly in the developing regions of the Global South, are not prepared to handle the surge in water-related extremes, reminded WMO in its report on the State of Climate Services, 2021 a week ago.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
• Established in 1950, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is an intergovernmental organisation that originated from the International Meteorological Organisation (IMO).
  • The International Meteorological Organisation (IMO) had its roots from the Vienna International Meteorological Congress of 1873.
• It became a specialised agency of the UN in 1951.
• The United Nations Economic and Social Council is the parent organization of the UN’s WMO.
• WMO celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2020.
• The WMO has 193 Member States and 6 Member Territories.
• WMO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Reports:
  • Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.
  • Status of the World Climate.

What does WMO do?

• WMO coordinates the activities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in 191 States and Territories so that basic weather, climate and water services are made available to anyone who needs them, when they need them.
• WMO guarantees the publication of observations and statistics and furthers the application of meteorology and hydrology (including the monitoring and predictions of climate change and ozone) to all aspects of human activities such as aviation, shipping, water management and agriculture.
• WMO also encourages research and training in meteorology and hydrology and their related applications and contributes towards reducing the impact of weather- and climate-related hazards.
• Predictions concerning locust swarms and the transport of pollutants (nuclear and toxic substances, volcanic ash) are also provided by WMO Members.

World Meteorological Congress

• The World Meteorological Congress is the supreme body of the WMO. It is headed by its Secretary-General.
• World Meteorological Congress is composed of member states, which meets every four years to set policies and priorities.
• The Congress is led by an Executive Council which implements its decisions, while Six Regional Associations are responsible for the coordination of meteorological, hydrological and related activities within their respective regions.