🌦️ World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
đź“Ś Overview
- Established: 1950 (originating from the International Meteorological Organization founded in 1873)
- Specialized UN Agency Since: 1951
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Membership: 193 Member States and 6 Member Territories
- Parent Body: United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
🎯 Mandate and Vision
- Coordinate global efforts in meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related geophysical sciences
- Promote standardized data exchange, early warning systems, and climate resilience
- Serve as the UN system’s authoritative voice on the behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere and its interaction with oceans and water resources
🛠️ Core Functions
- Global Data Coordination: Facilitates the exchange of meteorological and climatological data among member countries
- Standardization: Establishes international standards for weather and climate observations
- Early Warning Systems: Develops systems for extreme weather events (cyclones, floods, droughts, locust swarms, pollutant transport)
- Climate Research: Supports collaborative research on climate change indicators (e.g. sea level rise, greenhouse gas concentrations)
- Capacity Building: Provides training and technical support to enhance national meteorological services
🧠Governance Structure
- World Meteorological Congress: Supreme body; meets every four years to set policy
- Executive Council: 36-member body; meets annually to implement Congress decisions
- Secretariat: Headed by a Secretary-General; manages daily operations
- Regional Associations: Six bodies coordinate activities across global regions
đź“Š Publications and Reports
- Annual State of the Global Climate Report
- Global Climate Watch
- Weather and Climate Extremes Bulletins
- Recent reports warn of a >50% chance of global temperatures surpassing 1.5°C within five years due to El Niño and insufficient emission reductions