WMO and UNITAR cooperate on climate services

The World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) have agreed to boost cooperation as part of a wider international initiative to strengthen links between providers and users of climate services as well as the education and research community.

The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 7 March to strengthen collaboration on projects of mutual interest, in support of implementation and effective operation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).

A strong priority of the GFCS is to increase and improve interactions between climate service providers and those who make use of the services, in order to increase the uptake and effective use of climate information. This will require unprecedented collaboration because no single government or agency has the necessary resources to address all the challenges on its own. Consequently, the success of the GFCS depends on the ability of all relevant stakeholders including WMO to partner effectively to meet its objectives.

UNITAR has an Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) which delivers imagery analysis and satellite solutions to relief and development organizations within and outside the UN system – for instance on major floods and droughts. Enhanced collaboration between UNITAR and WMO in this area will, therefore, help make a difference in critical areas such as disaster risk reduction, development planning and humanitarian relief. Mutual cooperation will strengthen the greatly enhance the value of climatic services and provide substantial benefits to the public through more resilient societies and economies.