World Meteorological Day.

World Meteorological Day 2009
Weather, climate and the air we breathe
23 March 2009

Each year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization, its 188 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. This Day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the WMO Convention creating the Organization. Subsequently, in 1951, WMO was designated a specialized agency of the United Nations System. This year, the theme is “Weather, climate and the air we breathe”.

WMO in brief

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources.
WMO has a membership of 188Member States and Territories(since 24 January 2007). It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. Established in 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations in 1951 for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
As weather, climate and the water cycle know no national boundaries, international cooperation at a global scale is essential for the development of meteorology and operational hydrology as well as to reap the benefits from their application. WMO provides the framework for such international cooperation.
Since its establishment, WMO has played a unique and powerful role in contributing to the safety and welfare of humanity. Under WMO leadership and within the framework of WMO programmes, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services contribute substantially to the protection of life and property against natural disasters, to safeguarding the environment and to enhancing the economic and social well-being of all sectors of society in areas such as food security, water resources and transport.
WMO promotes cooperation in the establishment of networks for making meteorological, climatological, hydrological and geophysical observations, as well as the exchange, processing and standardization of related data, and assists technology transfer, training and research. It also fosters collaboration between the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its Members and furthers the application of meteorology to public weather services, agriculture, aviation, shipping, the environment, water issues and the mitigation of the impacts of natural disasters. Download the brochure (pdf, 1.2 MB)
WMO facilitates the free and unrestricted exchange of data and information, products and services in real- or near-real time on matters relating to safety and security of society, economic welfare and the protection of the environment. It contributes to policy formulation in these areas at national and international levels.
In the specific case of weather-, climate and water-related hazards, which account for nearly 90% of all natural disasters, WMO's programmes provide vital information for the advance warnings that save lives and reduce damage to property and the environment. WMO also contributes to reducing the impacts of human-induced disasters, such as those associated with chemical and nuclear accidents, forest fire and volcanic ash. Studies have shown that, apart from the incalculable benefit to human well-being, every dollar invested in meteorological and hydrological services produces an economic return many times greater, often ten times or more.
WMO plays a leading role in international efforts to monitor and protect the environment through its Programmes. In collaboration with other UN agencies and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO supports the implementation of a number of environmental conventions and is instrumental in providing advice and assessments to governments on related matters. These activities contribute towards ensuring the sustainable development and well-being of nations.

Vision and mission

The vision of WMO is to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and water resources and related environmental issues and thereby contribute to the safety and well-being of people throughout the world and to the economic benefit of all nations.
The mission of WMO is to:
• Facilitate worldwide cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for the making of meteorological observations as well as hydrological and other geophysical observations related to meteorology, and to promote the establishment and maintenance of centres charged with the provision of meteorological and related services;
• Promote the establishment and maintenance of systems for the rapid exchange of meteorological and related information;
• Promote standardization of meteorological and related observations and to ensure the uniform publication of observations and statistics;
• Further the application of meteorology to aviation, shipping, water problems, agriculture and other human activities;
• Promote activities in operational hydrology and to further close cooperation between Meteorological and Hydrological Services;
• Encourage research and training in meteorology and, as appropriate, in related fields, and to assist in coordinating the international aspects of such research and training.

Strategic planning

Fifteenth World Meteorological Congress (Geneva, May 2007) approved the WMO Strategic Plan (WMO-No. 1028), to replace the Sixth WMO Long-term Plan (2004-2011) as from January 2008. The Strategic Plan is the result of a planning process driven by the needs and priorities identified by WMO Members. It is a living document that, within a continuous planning process, further evolves through periodic planning, execution, evaluation and updating phases.
Purpose of the WMO Strategic
Plan Using the WMO vision as a basis, the Strategic Plan defines the high-level and long-term objectives and strategies for WMO to effectively develop and coordinate plans and programmes for implementation, consequently enabling its 188 Members to collectively perform their key activities, mainly through their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. These activities include monitoring, assessing and forecasting weather, air quality, climate, oceanic conditions, the global water cycle and hydrometeorological hazards. Suitable policy advisory services are also rendered at national and international levels. Such policies are, among others, on management and use of weather, climate, water and related environmental information for socio-economic planning and management. The Strategic Plan thus provides guidance and direction to ensure focused and coordinated approaches across the Organization.
A considerable proportion of Gross Domestic Product of developed and developing countries alike is sensitive to weather, climate and water conditions. Hence, the vulnerability of communities everywhere could be significantly reduced through the appropriate use of weather, climate and water information and services.
The Strategic Plan will help all Members by enhancing their policy-related strategies for meeting society’s needs. Such strategies would be focused on how weather, climate, water and related environmental information and services could be harnessed to manage nature’s risks and enhance social and economic development. The Plan will indeed enhance strategies for the effective application of weather, climate and water information and related services within the framework of improving the safety and well-being of peoples, reducing poverty, increasing prosperity and protecting the environment for future generations. It is also expected to motivate, guide and coordinate the activities of Members, primarily through their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, the Executive Council, regional associations, technical commissions and the WMO Secretariat. In summary, successful use of the Plan will contribute to the following desired societal outcomes:
* Improved protection of life, livelihoods and property
* Improved health and well-being of citizens
* Increased safety on land, at sea and in the air
* Sustained economic growth in both developed and developing countries
* Protection of other natural resources and improved environmental quality
* Mitigation of natural disasters.
WMO strategic planning process
WMO has built its strategic planning on the results-based management (RBM) concept, which also steers the programme definition and implementation management in the Secretariat. This approach will enable the Organization to better achieve its objectives and assist Members in the realization of their own sustainable plans.
The WMO strategic planning process begins with the integration of Members’ input into a high-level planning document that defines the objectives, strategies and expected results.
This planning process in three fundamental documents:
* The WMO Strategic Plan, which provides a high-level statement of strategic directions and priorities of WMO in the form of the top-level objectives, strategic thrusts and corresponding expected results. It serves as the main basis for the WMO Operating Plan;
* The WMO Operating Plan converts the Strategic Plan into specific deliverables and related activities to be implemented by the WMO Programmes, and the corresponding timelines and key performance targets;
* The WMO results-based budget connects deliverables and activities to resources. The expected results connect the three documents and are reflected in each one of them;
* Actual achievements are measured by performance indicators.

Scope of the WMO Strategic Plan
The desired societal outcomes are addressed by three top-level objectives, namely:
* To produce more accurate, timely and reliable forecasts and warnings of weather, climate, water and related environmental elements;
* To improve the delivery of weather, climate, water and related environmental information and services to the public, governments and other users;
* To provide scientific and technical expertise and advice in support of policy- and decision-making and implementation of the agreed international development goals and multilateral agreements.
The top-level objectives are derived from, and embedded in, the frameworks of sustainable development policies and global partnership strategies for development and thus contribute to meeting the targets of internationally agreed development goals, programmes and frameworks such as the The World Summit (2005), the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000), the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002), the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (2005) and the Mauritius Strategy for the further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (2005). They also draw on a series of agreements and working arrangements with other international organizations and relevant international conventions and agreements related to weather, climate, water and the environment.
These top-level objectives are achieved through a series of initiatives which emphasize five strategic thrusts: science and technology development and implementation; service delivery; capacity-building; partnerships; and efficient management and good governance. Expectations associated with each of these initiatives (see below) define a set of 11 expected results and associated performance indicators, which form the basis for the development of the WMO Operating Plan, the WMO results-based budget and the performance monitoring and evaluation measures.

Strategic thrusts	Expected results
Science and technology development and implementation	1. Enhanced capabilities of Members to produce better weather forecasts and warnings
	2. Enhanced capabilities of Members to provide better climate predictions and assessments
	3. Enhanced capabilities of Members to provide better hydrological forecasts and assessments
	4. Integration of WMO observing systems
	5. Development and implementation of the new WMO Information System
Service delivery	6. Enhanced capabilities of Members in multi-hazard early warning and disaster prevention and preparedness
	7. Enhanced capabilities of Members to provide and use weather, climate, water and environmental applications and services
Partnership	8. Broader use of weather, climate and water outputs for decision-making and implementation by Members and partner organizations
Capacity-building	9. Enhanced capabilities of NMHSs in developing countries, particularly least developed countries, to fulfil their mandates
Efficient management and good governance	10. Effective and efficient functioning of constituent bodies
	11. Effective and efficient management performance and oversight of the Organization

Structure of the Organization

World Meteorological Congress, the supreme body of the Organization, brings together the delegates of Members once every four years to determine general policies for the fulfilment of the purposes of the Organization, to approve long-term plans, to authorize maximum expenditure for the following financial period, to adopt Technical Regulations relating to international meteorological and operational hydrological practice, to elect the President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization and members of the Executive Council and to appoint the Secretary-General.
The Executive Council, the executive body of the Organization, is responsible to Congress for the coordination of the programmes of the Organization and the utilization of its budgetary resources in accordance with the decision of Congress. Composed of 37 directors of National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services, it meets at least once a year to implement the programmes approved by Congress and review the activities of the Organization.
The six regional associations are each composed of Members whose task it is to coordinate meteorological, hydrological and related activities within their respective Regions (Africa; Asia; South America; North America, Central America and the Caribbean; South-West Pacific; and Europe).
The eight technical commissions, composed of experts designated by Members, study matters within their specific areas of competence (technical commissions have been established for basic systems, instruments and methods of observation, atmospheric sciences, aeronautical meteorology, agricultural meteorology, oceanography and marine meteorology (jointly with IOC of UNESCO), hydrology and climatology).
The Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, serves as the administrative, documentation and information centre of the Organization. It prepares, edits, produces and distributes the publications of the Organization, carries out the duties specified in the Convention and other Basic Documents and provides support to the work of the constituent bodies of WMO described above.
The Secretariat hosts Regional Offices for Africa, Asia and the South-West Pacific, the Americas, and Europe. The Regional Offices supervise related WMO offices in the field.
There are two liaison offices: one in New York and one in Brussels.

The Secretariat

The WMO Secretariat has its Headquarters in Geneva. Regional offices are located in Geneva; field offices are located in various WMO Regions and there are two liaison offices in New York and Brussels. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by Congress and serves a four-year term with a maximum tenure of 12 years. (Resolution 36, Thirteenth Congress (2003)). The Secretary-General has the responsibility to appoint all Secretariat staff, including the Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General, in accordance with regulations established by Congress and with the approval of the Executive Council.
The Fifteenth World Meteorological Congress approved a new framework for the Result-based Management of the Organization. This includes the implementation from 2008 of the Strategic Plan which defines three Top Level Objectives, five Strategic Thrusts and eleven Organization-wide Expected Results. The Operating Plan and the Result-based Budget for the period 2008-2011 direct the programmatic implementation activities of the Organization. The Executive Council set its subsidiary structure in line with Strategic Thrusts.
The Secretariat structure has been reviewed as a part of the process that will lead to a consistent implementation of Result-based Management and took effect on 1 January 2008.
The new structure consists of the following principal organization entities
The Executive Office comprises the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General. The Secretary-General is responsible for the overall technical and administrative work of the Secretariat. The Secretary-General manages his role by delegating substantive authority to the Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General in matters related to programme management, policy, and advocacy, overall supervisory, legal and executive functions.
Entities under direct supervision of the Secretary-General
* Cabinet and External Relations Department (cabinet functions, external relations, New York and Brussels liason offices, and communication and public affairs)
* Resource Management Department (budget, finance, human resource management and information technology support)
* Internal Oversight Office
* Secretary-General's office (including Legal Counsel)
Entities under supervision of the Deputy Secretary-General
* Weather and Disaster Risk Reduction Services Department (WDS)
-Meteorological Applications Branch (MAP)
-Disaster Risk Reduction and Service Delivery Branch (DSD)
* Climate and Water Department (CLW)
-Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA)
-Hydrology and Water Resources Branch (HWR)
* Observing and Information Systems Department (OBS)
-WMO Integrated Global Observing System Branch (WIGOS)
-WMO Information System Branch (WIS)
* Research Department (RES)
-World Climate Research Programme Joint Planning Staff (JPS/WCRP)
-Atmospheric Research and Environment Branch (ARE)
* Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Entities under supervision of the Assistant Secretary-General
* Strategic Planning Office
* Development and Regional Activities Department
-Resource Mobilization Office (RMO)
-Office for the LDC Programme and Regional Coordination (LDCR)
-Regional Offices
-Education and Training Office (ETR)
* Programme Support Services Department
-Linguistic Services and Publishing Branch (LSP)
-Conferences, Contracts and Facilities Management Branch (CCFM)

Office of the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of WMO

The Secretary-General of WMO manages his role by delegating substantive authority to the Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General in matters related to programme management, policy, advocacy, overall supervisory, legal and executive functions.
Appointment of the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is appointed by Congress, the supreme body of the Organization, for a four-year term. Following the decision of Thirteenth World Meteorological Congress (Resolution No. 36), a Secretary-General can serve a maximum of three four-year terms. The appointment of the Secretary-General is governed by a strict procedure which is stipulated in the WMO Covention and General Regulations. Since 1 January 2004, Mr Michel Jarraud (France) has been the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization.
Duties and role of the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is responsible for the overall technical and administrative work of the Secretariat. This includes promoting compliance of WMO Members with the decisions of the Organization; liaising with the WMO President and Vice-Presidents, presidents of technical commissions and regional associations, Member States and Territories and international organizations; representing WMO when negotiating with these authorities; nominating his representatives on WMO subsidiary bodies and on those of other organizations; attending their meetings or issuing guidance to his representative; channeling communications between WMO and its Members and between constituent bodies and other organizations or other constituent bodies; and maintaining the presidents of constituent bodies advised of the activities and recommendations of other constituent bodies and of other international organizations pertaining to their field of work.
The Secretary-General's managerial and administrative functions are supported through the Executive Management Committee, comprising all Directors, administrative machinery dealing with administrative issues and special internal thematic steering committees, advisory boards, coordination groups and task teams dealing with cross-cutting programmatic and emerging issues. Thematic committees and boards include: the Publications Board, Communication Board, Procurement and Contracts Committee, Fellowships Committee, Information Systems Strategy Advisory Committee, Steering Committee on Climate Activities, Steering Committee on Integrated Observing System, Steering Committee on Disaster Reduction, Steering Committee on Water-related Issues and the Steering Committee on the International Polar Year 2007-2008.
The Secretary-General maintains high-level contacts within the United Nations system through, in particular, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination. He also maintains contact with the permanent missions, the executive heads of intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental development partners, and the highest policy- and decision-makers at the national level.

Milestones

2009	20th anniversary of the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) World Climate Conference-3 builds on the legacy of the First and Second World Climate Conferences in 1979 and 1990
2008	20th anniversary of the WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
2007	WMO-UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Mr Al Gore, former US Vice-President and environmental campaigner Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Adoption of the Bali roadmap by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (Bali, Indonesia) for a new negotiating process to be concluded by 2009 that will lead to a post-2012 international agreement on climate change 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol: WMO receives the Montreal Protocol Partners Award Launch of International Polar Year 2007-2008 co-sponsored by the International Council for Science and WMO International Conference on Secure and Sustainable Living: Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services (Madrid, Spain)
2006	WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin launched WMO Arctic Ozone bulletin launched Antarctic ozone hole most serious on record
2005	First World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Kobe, Japan) International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Mauritius) Secretariat of the international Group of Earth Observations established in the WMO Secretariat
2003	Celebration of 150th anniversary of the Brussels Conference (1853) Second Technical Conference on the Participation of Women in Meteorology and Hydrology (Geneva) Launch of Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Programme, WMO Space Programme and Programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (under Technical Cooperation Programme)
2002	World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa)
2001	Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
2000	World Meteorological Organization celebrates 50 years of service
1999	Inauguration of new WMO Headquarters in Geneva
1997	Kyoto Conference establishes target and timetable for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions International Meeting on the Participation of Women in Meteorology and Hydrology (Bangkok, Thailand)
1995	Climate Information and Prediction Services (CLIPS) established Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Foundation stone of WMO new Headquarters building laid
1993	World Hydrological Cycle Observing System (WHYCOS) launched
1992	United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) established International Conference on Water and the Environment (Dublin, Ireland)
1991	First meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
1990	Second World Climate Conference initiates the Global Climate Observing System International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction begins First Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
1989	Global Atmosphere Watch established to monitor atmospheric composition WMO and UNEP initiate the process which leads to negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
1988	WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change established
1987	Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
1985	Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer
1983	WMO long-term planning process established
1979	First World Climate Conference, leading to the establishment of the WMO World Climate Programme
1978/ 1979	Global Weather Experiment and Monsoon Experiments under the Global Atmospheric Research Programme
1977	Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS) established jointly by WMO and the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
1976	WMO conducts first international assessment of the state of global ozone
1972	WMO's activities in the field of operational hydrology designated as the WMO Operational Hydrology Programme
1971	Tropical Cyclone Project established, later upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Programme
1963	World Weather Watch launched
1957	Launch of International Geophysical Year 1957-1958 Global Ozone Observing System set up
1951	WMO becomes a specialized agency of the United Nations
1950	WMO's Convention enters into force on 23 March
1947	Conference of Directors agree upon the WMO Convention
1932	Launch of the second International Polar Year 1932-1933
1882	Launch of the First International Polar Year 1882-1883
1873	WMO's predecessor, the International Meteorological Organization (IMO) established (Vienna)
1853	First International Meteorological Conference (Brussels)

World Meteorological Congress

World Meteorological Congress, the supreme body of the Organization, assembles delegates of Members once every four years to determine general policies for the fulfilment of the purposes of the Organization; to consider membership of the Organization; to determine the General, Technical, Financial and Staff Regulations; to establish and coordinate the activities of constituent bodies of the Organization; to approve long-term plans and budget for the following financial period; to elect the President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization and members of the Executive Council; and to appoint the Secretary-General.

WMO scientific and technical programmes

Summary
* World Weather Watch (WWW) Programme
* World Climate Programme (WCP)
* Atmospheric Research and Environment Programme (AREP)
* Applications of Meteorology Programme (AMP)
* Hydrology and Water Resources Programme (HWRP)
Education and Training Programme (ETRP)
* Technical Cooperation Programme (TCOP)
Regional Programme (RP)
WMO Space Programme (SAT)
Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRR)
Co-sponsored programmes
Summary
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
Other major projects
Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev Africa)
Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP)
Hydrological Operational Multipurpose System (HOMS)
Integrated Flood Management (IFM) Helpdesk
Hydrological Information Referral Service (INFOHYDRO)
Severe Weather Information Centre (SWIC)
World AgroMeteorological Information Service (WAMIS)
World Hydrological Cycle Observing System (WHYCOS)
WMO Information System (WIS)
WMO Integrated Observing System (WIGOS)
World Weather Information Service (WWIS)

Sources:
http://www.wmo.ch/wmd/
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/about/index_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/about/mission_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/about/wmo_structure_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/about/sec/index_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/about/sec/sg_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/about/milestones_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/governance/congress/index_en.html
http://www.wmo.ch/pages/summary/progs_struct_en.html