Microsoft Word - Document2

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/news/v.php?id=10983&a=email

Global framework for climate services established at the WCC-3 conference

•

Date:3 Sep 2009

•

Source(s):World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Press Release No. 861

World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), which has brought together from 31 August
to 4 September 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland, more than 2 000 climate scientists,
sectoral experts and decision-makers today established a Global Framework for
Climate Services “to strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of
science-based climate prediction and services.”

The Declaration establishing the Global Framework was adopted today at WCC-3 by
high-level policy-makers from more than 150 countries, including Heads of
State/Government of Ethiopia, Monaco, Mozambique, Slovenia, Tajikistan, the Vice-
Presidents of Comores and the United Republic of Tanzania, the Premier of Niue, the
Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Cook Islands, the Vice-Premier of China, more than 80
Ministers and other Senior Government Officials. The adoption stood under the
chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of Mozambique, and H.E.
Mr. Moritz Leuenberger, Federal Councillor of the Swiss Confederation, host country of
the Conference.

“Today is a landmark day for making climate services available to all people,” said Mr.
Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, which
convened WCC-3 with partners. “But the work has really just begun, to establish a
formalized system that ensures the availability of user-friendly products for all sectors to
plan ahead in the face of changing climate conditions,” Mr. Jarraud said. “The work to
implement the Global Framework goes beyond WCC-3 and beyond climate negotiations
in Copenhagen this December. Society will need information tools to adapt as the climate
will continue to be variable and to change notwithstanding steps taken to reduce
emissions of greenhouse gases.”

“World Climate Conference-3 is a natural bridge for connecting science to the climate

negotiations for Copenhagen,” said Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United
Nations, who spoke at the WCC-3 High-Level Segment opening after a visit to the polar
ice rim north of the Norwegian island of Svalbard. “Scientific knowledge must be the
basis for global climate policy, both for mitigation and adaptation to inevitable climate
impacts. The Global Framework for Climate Services is an important step toward
strengthening the application of climate science in local, regional, national and
international decision-making.”

“The Framework gives us an instrument to better adapt on actual climate change,” said
H.E. Mr. Moritz Leuenberger, Federal Councillor, Head of Federal Department of the
Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, and twofold former President of
the Swiss Confederation. The Framework “builds a bridge between the science, climate
experts and users around the world and within as many as possible users in several socio-
economic sectors,” said Mr. Leuenberger, who co-chaired the WCC-3 High-level
Segment opening.

“Climate change and variability are global phenomena which affect us all in different
forms,” said H.E. Mr. Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of Mozambique and co-chair
of the High-level Segment. “The heat waves and the floods developed countries
experience demonstrate that no single country is immune to these phenomena. More
importantly, the very fact that climate change and variability interfere with the
Millennium Development Goals should urge us all to act today because tomorrow may be
too late.”

“The Global Framework for Climate Services aims to enhance climate observations and
monitoring, transform that information into sector-specific products and applications, and
disseminate those products widely,” said Mr. Alexander Bedritsky, WMO President and
Chair of the WCC-3 Expert Segment. The 1 500 scientists and sector experts who
participated in the WCC-3 Expert Segment (31 August-2 September) supported the
development of the proposed Global Framework and called for a strengthening of five
essential elements:

* The Global Climate Observing System and all its components, encouraging exchange
and access to climate data;
* The World Climate Research Programme, underpinned by adequate computing
resources and increased interaction with other global climate research initiatives;
* Climate services information systems taking advantage of existing national and
international arrangements;
* Climate user interface mechanisms focused on building linkages and integrating
information between the providers and users of climate services; and
* Efficient and enduring capacity building through education, training and strengthened
outreach and communication.

The Declaration requests the Secretary General of WMO to “convene within four months
of the adoption of the Declaration an intergovernmental meeting of member states of the
WMO to approve the terms of reference and to endorse the composition of a task force of

high-level, independent advisors to be appointed by the Secretary-General of the WMO
with due consideration to expertise, geographical and gender balance.” Within 12 months
of the task force being set up, it will, after wide consultation with governments, partner
organizations and relevant stakeholders, prepare a report that will include next steps for
developing and implementing the Framework. The WMO Secretary-General will then
circulate the report to WMO Members for consideration at the WMO Congress in 2011
with a view toward the Framework’s implementation.

Today’s opening of the High-level Segment included a keynote address by Mr. Rajendra
Kumar Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, co-winner of
the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He emphasized the scientific realities associated with a 2
degrees Celsius target. Only due to thermal expansion, sea-level rise is inevitable and will
threaten millions of people in coastal areas and mega-deltas. In order to achieve the 2
degrees Celsius target, it is important that the global greenhouse gas emissions peak by
2015 and then sharply decline. He stressed the huge co-benefits of mitigation for health,
agriculture, employment and energy security. “Given that the inertia in the system will
result in climate change and its impacts, even if we reduced our emissions to zero today,
the global community has to address the need for adaptation measures, particularly in the
most vulnerable regions of the world”, he said.

For a full WCC-3 programme and more details, visit the WCC-3 Website:

http://www.wmo.int/wcc3

WMO is the United Nations' authoritative voice on weather, climate and water

For more information please contact WMO Communications and Public Affairs:

Ms Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, tel: +41 (0) 22 730 8314/15, E-mail:

cvanmaele@wmo.int

(Spokesperson for WCC-3)

Ms Marie Heuzé, Special Advisor, tel: +41 (0) 22 730 8478, E-mail:

mheuze@wmo.int

(United Nations coordination)

Ms Lisa Muñoz, WCC-3 Press Officer, tel. +41 (0) 22 730 8213. E-mail:

lmunoz@wmo.int

(general requests and special events)

Ms Gaelle Sevenier, Press Officer, tel. +41 (0) 22 730 84 17. E-mail:

gsevenier@wmo.int

(interview and press conference requests)

Kosmos Akande-Alasoka, Public Information Officer, tel: +41 (0) 22 730 80 97, e-mail:

kakande-alasoka@wmo.int

(audiovisual requests)