WMO Commission for Climatology
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| WMO Commission for Climatology | |
|---|---|
| Name | WMO Commission for Climatology |
| Type | Commission |
| Headquarters | Geneva |
| Region served | World Meteorological Organization |
| Parent organization | World Meteorological Organization |
WMO Commission for Climatology is a technical commission of the World Meteorological Organization that provides guidance on climatological services, meteorology-related policy, and operational standards. It supports Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, coordinates with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and advises national meteorological services such as Met Office, NOAA, Environment Canada, and Bureau of Meteorology. The commission interacts with specialized bodies including World Climate Research Programme, Global Climate Observing System, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and regional entities like Asian Development Bank and African Union.
History
The commission traces origins to deliberations within the International Meteorological Organization and early twentieth-century meetings in Washington, D.C., evolving through the founding of the World Meteorological Organization in 1950 and subsequent congresses in Geneva and Prague. Its mandate was refined following guidance from the United Nations General Assembly and technical inputs from scientific programs such as the Global Atmosphere Watch, World Weather Watch, and the International Geophysical Year. Notable historical interactions include collaboration on climate service development with World Health Organization, technical exchanges with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and contributions to multinational initiatives led by Group of Seven and Group of Twenty summits.
Mandate and Functions
The commission provides authoritative recommendations on climate observational networks, archives, and service delivery to members including Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, China Meteorological Administration, Japan Meteorological Agency, and National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Bulgaria). It develops technical guidance for implementation of Global Framework for Climate Services objectives endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General and supports national adaptation planning under the Paris Agreement supervised by UNFCCC. The commission issues strategic advice aligning with scientific assessments from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and operational models from ECMWF and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
Organizational Structure
The commission comprises elected experts nominated by permanent representatives to World Meteorological Organization, including chairs, vice-chairs, and rapporteurs who liaise with program bodies such as WCRP and GCOS. Its working groups and task teams include specialists from institutions like National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Sessions convene alongside WMO congresses and regional associations such as WMO Regional Association II (Asia) and Regional Association VI (Europe), and coordination occurs with treaty bodies like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat.
Programs and Activities
The commission oversees programmatic efforts including climate monitoring, seasonal forecasting, climate risk assessment, and service provision implemented by members such as Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina), Instituto Nacional de Meteorología (Spain), South African Weather Service, and Met Éireann. It organizes workshops, capacity-building with partners like World Bank and UNDP, and technical conferences in collaboration with International Civil Aviation Organization and International Maritime Organization on sectors affected by climate variability. The commission supports operational initiatives like Climate Data Modernization Program analogues and regional climate outlook forums coordinated with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Caribbean Community.
Data, Standards, and Publications
The commission establishes standards for climatological observations, metadata, quality control, and archive management consistent with Global Climate Observing System and interoperable formats used by Copernicus Programme, NOAA Climate Data Record, and European Space Agency missions. It issues guidance documents, technical reports, and best-practice manuals distributed to national services including Météo-France, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Finnish Meteorological Institute, and Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (Venezuela). Data stewardship aligns with principles promoted by Committee on Earth Observation Satellites and the Open Geospatial Consortium to support research by institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Hadley Centre, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Partnerships and International Collaboration
The commission maintains partnerships with scientific organizations like World Climate Research Programme, Global Framework for Climate Services, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, and operational agencies such as NOAA, ECMWF, and NASA. It collaborates with development banks including the Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to mainstream climate information into resilience projects with stakeholders such as United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme. Joint efforts extend to regional bodies like Pacific Islands Forum, African Union, and European Commission to enhance climatological services for disaster risk reduction coordinated with United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.