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COMMISSION FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
MANAGEMENT GROUP, SECOND SESSION
OSLO, NORWAY, 24-26 SEPTEMBER 2007 / CAS-MG2/INF. 3
(20.VIlI.2007)
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Original: ENGLISH
WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE - 3
SUMMARY AND PURPOSE OF DOCUMENTThis document contains the letter addressed to the WMO Members regarding the World Climate Conference - 3
CAS-MG2/INF. 3
Our ref.: WCP/CCA/WIOC GENEVA, 27 July 2007
Annex: 1
Subject: World Climate Conference - 3
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Fifteenth Congress session that was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 29 May 2007, discussed and approved that WMO, in collaboration with other UN Agencies and partners will organize a World Climate Conference – 3 (WCC-3) towards the end of 2009 from extrabudgetary resources. Resolution 3.2.1/2 (Cg-XV) on WCC-3 is attached for your information.
Congress noted that WMO, in cooperation with other UN Agencies and partners, organized the First and Second World Climate Conferences which resulted in the development of various important programmes. It further noted that, over the last decade, major scientific advances had occurred in the understanding and the prediction of climate variability. These scientific advances have been motivated by an ever-increasing demand for climate prediction in decision-making and applications of climate information to climate risk management and adaptation. Therefore, the overall theme for this conference will be “Climate prediction for decision-making focusing on seasonal to inter-annual timescales taking into account multi-decadal prediction” with two segments: a scientific segment and a high-level segment.
During the fifteenth session of the WMO Congress, the delegation of Switzerland expressed its interest to host the WCC-3 and, through its mission to the United Nations Organizations in Geneva, reserved the Geneva International Conference Centre from 12 to 16 October 2009 for the holding of this Conference.
Furthermore, Congress noted the proposed preliminary extrabudgetary requirement of about CHF 3.5 million for the Conference. It authorized the establishment of a Special Trust Fund to support all activities that are associated to this Conference and also the establishment of a WCC-3 International Organizing Committee (WIOC). The establishment of these is progressing well. Almost half of the funds will be used to support participants from developing and least developed countries.
To: Permanent Representatives (or Directors of Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services) of Members of WMO (PR-6301)
cc: Hydrological Advisers to Permanent Representatives
- 2 -
The purpose of this letter it to inform you on this decision and request you to:
(1) Contribute to the Special Trust Fund to support the various activities of the Conference;
(2) Provide seconded experts to support the Conference Secretariat planned to be located within the WMO Secretariat.
I look forward to working with you all for the success of this important Conference and will regularly keep you informed on further developments.
Yours faithfully,
(M. Jarraud)
Secretary-General
W O R L D M E T E O R O L O G I C A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N
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WCP/CCA/WIOC, ANNEX
EXTRACT FROM Cg-XV/PINK 3.2(1), APPENDIX C
DRAFT RESOLUTION
Res. 3.2.1/2 (Cg-XV) World Climate Programme - World Climate Conference 3
THE CONGRESS,
Noting that:
(1) WMO in cooperation with other UN Agencies such as UNEP, FAO, UNESCO and its IOC, and ICSU organized the First World Climate Conference in 1979,
(2) The First World Climate Conference influenced the establishment of a number of scientific activities such as IPCC, WCP and WCRP,
(3) WMO organized the Second World Climate Conference in 1990, which called for the establishment of a climate convention, which resulted in the development of UNFCCC in 1992, and the organizing of a GCOS,
(4) Over the last decade major scientific advances have occurred in the understanding and in predicting climate variability,
(5) These scientific advances have been motivated by ever-increasing demand for climate predictions in decision-making and applications of climate information to climate risk management and adaptation,
Noting further that:
(1) Adapting to climate variability and change and the potential impacts poses challenges and offers opportunities for the management of resources and for national and local infrastructures and economies,
(2) Many developing and in particular Least Developed Countries are highly susceptible to setbacks from climate extremes and dependent on improving their use of climate information for achieving their economic and societal goals,
(3) Improvements in climate and earth observations from satellite, ground based, and in situ platforms can be synthesized into useful data products and indicators for decision makers,
Recognizing that:
(1) The Ad Hoc Exploratory Committee on World Climate Conference-3 established by WMO, Geneva, 28-29 April 2005 concluded that there are sufficient scientific issues to justify the holding of a WCC-3 and recommended the development of a WCC-3 on the basis of scientific advances in seasonal to inter-annual, and possibly decadal forecasting as an overarching theme for the Conference,
(2) EC-LVII recommended the establishment of a Provisional Organizing Committee (POC) and confirmed the proposal of an ad hoc Exploratory Committee,
ANNEX, p. 2
(3) The first and second meetings of POC (October 2005 and March 2006) proposed structure and themes for a science conference and high-level segment,
(4) EC-LVII and EC-LVIII confirmed the reports of POC sessions and agreed on the importance of communicating widely on the scientific advances in seasonal to inter-annual and possibly decadal prediction through a World Climate Conference-3,
(5) The POC held its third session, November 2006, jointly with representatives of other UN Agencies and refined all aspects of a meeting plan for a WCC-3, including expectations for high-level segment,
Considering that:
(1) WCC–3 should 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,
(2) WCC-3 has the potential to contribute to significant and immediate socio-economic benefits, including the prevention and mitigation to the impacts of natural disasters,
(3) WCC-3, by advancing the science and application of climate prediction, would provide valuable input to the growing number of activities and programmes focused on adapting to and managing risks posed by climate variability and change, particularly for developing countries,
(4) WCC-3 would enhance coordination across WMO Programmes and those in UN and international scientific organizations,
Endorses, in general, the scope, content and recommendations made in the report of the third meeting of the POC;
Decides:
(1) To make arrangements for the convening of a World Climate Conference-3 towards the end of 2009 with the overall theme of climate prediction for decision making focusing on seasonal to inter-annual timescales taking into account multi-decadal prediction;
(2) WCC-3 will be comprised of two segments: science conference and high-level segment;
(3) WCC-3 must be funded from extrabudgetary resources;
Invites the WMO Secretariat, its technical commissions, particularly CCl, international organizations carrying out the climate related programmes or activities, especially UNEP, UNESCO and its IOC, FAO, ICSU, UNFCCC, UNCCD, UNCBD, UNDP and ISDR in cooperation with the European Commission, WB, IPCC, GCOS, WHO, GEO, UNWTO, private sector, NGOs and IGBP to continue preparations for organizing a WCC-3;
Urges Members to spare no effort to support this initiative through national and international activities;
ANNEX, p. 3
Requests the Secretary-General:
(1) To make provisions, as necessary, for establishing an International Organizing Committee (IOC) funded with extrabudgetary resources provided for the conference; To this end, Congress authorizes the Secretary-General to establish a special Trust Fund for this purpose;
(2) To continue coordination of all facets of a WCC-3 in order to ensure the successful organization of both the high-level segment and the science conference;
(3) To continue consultation and coordination with the UN bodies, NGO’s, relevant businesses and WMO Members;
(4) To arrange for further planning for the science conference and the development of cost estimates and to develop a strategy for and to explore the potential for mobilizing resources to move forward on organizing a WCC-3;
(5) To report at least annually to the Executive Council on the progress and future activities for preparation of a WCC-3;
(6) To provide updates to WMO Members at regular intervals as appropriate on the organization of the WCC-3;
Requests the Executive Council:
(1) To provide guidance to the Secretary-General about the composition and terms of reference of the IOC;
(2) To review annually the IOC’s preparations for a WCC-3, with the aim of ensuring that the conference produces outcomes of comparable significance to those of the prior world climate conferences.
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