EVENTS LEADING UP TO AND OUTPUTS OF WCC – 3

Filipe Lúcio

WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE - 3 Geneva, Switzerland, 31 August 4 September

2009

Theme: Climate prediction and information for decision making

Vision: “An international framework for climate services that links science-based climate predictions and information with the management of climate-related risks and opportunities in support of adaptation to climate variability and change in both developed and developing countries.”

Review of the Outcome of WCC-33

The road to WCC-3

- 1st WCC (1979)• Examined influence of climate on society and

called for action regarding the threat of climate change

• Establishment of World Climate Programme (IOC/UNESCO, ICSU)

• Establishment of IPCC in 1988 (WMO, UNEP)

- 2nd WCC (1990)• Called for action to arrest build up of greenhouse

gases

• Establishment of GCOS (WMO, UNEP, ICSU and IOC/UNESCO)

• Provided the scientific foundation and political endorsement for negotiation of UNFCCC

THE 15TH WMO CONGRESS THE 15TH WMO CONGRESS JUNE 2007JUNE 2007

WCC-3 should:•produce significant concrete outcomes of both near-term and long-term economic and social benefit to WMO Members, the private sector, and the general public;•result in practical outcomes of direct relevance to policy makers, the private sector and the public and should strengthen linkages among the scientific and users communities

WMO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL-LX WMO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL-LX JUNE 2008 JUNE 2008

The outcomes should:• bridge the gap between IPCC assessment

reports and the required services to adapt to climate variability and change at regional and national levels.

• address the observation and data needs, which influence adaptation strategies, impact assessments, and climate diagnostics and projections.

WMO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL-LX WMO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL-LX (CONT.)(CONT.)

The outcomes should:• include an action that enhances the provision of

climate prediction and information services for their integration into decision-making, to make the world safer; to enhance socio-economic well being; to spur growth by contributing to disaster risk reduction; and adaptation to climate variability and change; thus contributing to the achievements of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Conference

• A 2-year preparatory process

• International Organizing Committee

• Preparation with Members

• Two segments– Three day Expert Segment– Two day High-Level segment

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Key WCC-3 statistics

• 13 messages by Heads of State/Governments

• 57 Ministers or equivalent officials also addressed the HLS

• 14 Executive Heads of UN Agencies & Programmes present

• 17 major contributors to Conference trust fund

• ~ 2500 scientists participated in the “expert” sessions

• 12 “White Papers” addressing key climate service issues

Review of the Outcome of WCC-3

Review of the Outcome of WCC-39

Side/media events & exhibitions

- ~ 200 poster participants- World Climate Broadcasts Forum- Media 21 journalists workshop- 2 new WMO publications launched

Climate Sense From Weather Gods to Modern

Meteorology - A philatelic journey

- Numerous side events

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PURPOSE OF EXPERT SEGMENTPURPOSE OF EXPERT SEGMENT

Engage a wide cross-section of: • climate scientists• Expert providers of climate information and

users of climate information and services

…….in a wide-ranging discussion on the essential elements of a new Global Framework for Climate Services

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SCIENCE OUTCOMESCIENCE OUTCOME

Expert segment consisted of:

• 12 parallel working sessions in key sectors

• 3 plenary round-table sessions

• 4 forums in parallel with the working sessions

• 4 workshops on implementing climate services

• 3 poster sessions

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CONCLUSIONS FROM THE CONCLUSIONS FROM THE EXPERT SEGMENTEXPERT SEGMENT

• Great scientific progress has been made over the past 30 years

• Present capabilities to provide effective climate services fall far short of meeting present and future needs

• Most urgent need is for much closer partnership between the providers and users of climate services

• Major new and strengthened research efforts are required to increase the time range and skill of climate prediction

Review of the Outcome of WCC-3

Examples of progress in weather Examples of progress in weather forecastingforecasting

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Useful skill is Useful skill is anything above 60%anything above 60%

MAIN OUTCOME OF THE MAIN OUTCOME OF THE EXPERT SEGMENTEXPERT SEGMENT

• Twelve white papers from the parallel sessions

• A Conference statement as input to the high-level segment

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OUTCOMES OF THE WORLD OUTCOMES OF THE WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE - 3CLIMATE CONFERENCE - 3

• Prepared a Brief Note – concept of a Framework for Climate Services

• High-Level Segement - Conference Declaration

• Established the Global Framework for Climate Services.

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THE BRIEF NOTETHE BRIEF NOTE

Presents an overview of the Framework through answering questions:

• Why is a GFCS necessary• What is the GFCS• What would be achieved through the GFCS• Who will participate in the GFCS• What are the next steps in developing a

GFCS• How will the GFCS be supported

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CONFERENCE DECLARATIONCONFERENCE DECLARATION

• Decided to establish a GFCS

• Requested the SG of WMO to convene an Intergovernmental Meeting within four months

• Decided that the High Level Taskforce should prepare a report after wide consultation

• Decided that the report of the Taskforce be circulated to Member States for consideration at the next WMO Congress (in 2011)

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Thank you for listening

Review of the Outcome of WCC-3