World Meteorological Organization, Its Network of Services in 189 Countries

 

Critical to Meeting Climate Challenge, Says Secretary-General in Message

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, as delivered by Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, to the SixteenthMeteorologicalCongress, in Geneva, 16 May:

I am pleased to send greetings to the participants of the Sixteenth World Meteorological Congress.  Your session takes place at a time when the significance of weather, climate and water information and services are increasingly being recognized as essential elements in global efforts to achieve sustainable development and human well-being.  Your deliberations can also contribute to our preparations for next year’s important United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20.

The science that is the foundation of your work must continue to drive our response to climate change.  Greenhouse gas emissions are accelerating.  Climate change is altering the geopolitical landscape and threatens economies around the world.  The World Meteorological Organization and its network of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in 189 countries are critical to meeting the climate challenge.  The Global Framework for Climate Services, established by the Third World Climate Conference, is also vital.  We must work together to assist the poorest and most vulnerable countries in adapting to the inevitable impacts.

I also wish to congratulate the High-level Task Force for its recommendations, which can help guide the way towards disaster risk reduction, improved water management, more productive and sustainable agriculture and better health outcomes.  I urge you to continue your work to improve predictions and early warning on impending weather and climate hazards.  This issue will only grow in importance.  Climate change means more incidents of freak and increasingly severe weather.  At the same time, information provided by national meteorological and hydrological services in the aftermath of natural and technological hazards has also proven to be essential and should be supported.

Once again, my gratitude to the WMO for all of its valuable contributions across the wide range of our work to promote sustainable development and improve the lives of people around the world.  Please accept my best wishes for a successful Congress.

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For information media • not an official record