EC-69/Doc.4.1, DRAFT 3APPROVED, p. 11
World Meteorological OrganizationEXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Sixty-Ninth Session
Geneva, 10 to 17 May 2017 / EC-69/Doc.4.1
Submitted by:
Chairperson
17 V.2017
APPROVED
AGENDA ITEM 4: CLIMATE SERVICES, SUPPORT TO CLIMATE ACTION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
AGENDA ITEM 4.1: UNFCCC AND RELATED UN PROCESSES
SUMMARY
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
(a) Adopt draft Decision 4.1/1 — WMO support to implementation of the Paris Agreement;
(b) Adopt draft Decision 4.1/2 — Recognition of Long-term Observing Stations;
(c) Adopt draft Decision 4.1/3 — Strengthening WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate;
(d) Adopt draft Decision 4.1/4 — Climate Services Information System (CSIS) products to support United Nations system and WMO Members planning on seasonal to inter-annual timescales.
CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:
The Table of Contents is available only electronically as a Document Map[*].
DRAFT DECISIONS
Draft Decision 4.1/1 (EC-69)
WMO SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
Recalling:
(1) Resolution 9 (Cg-17) - Identifiers for cataloguing extreme weather, water and climate events,
(2) Resolution 23 (Cg-17) – Pre-operational phase of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System,
(3) Resolution 39 (Cg-17) - Global Climate Observing System,
(4) Resolution 46 (Cg-17) - Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System,
(5) Resolution 63 (Cg-17) - Energy as an additional priority area of the Global Framework for Climate Services,
(6) Resolution 64 (Cg-17) - Development of a results-based framework for WMO support to the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services,
(7) Resolution 1 (EC-68) – WMO support to the Paris Agreement,
Further recalling:
(1) That the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, and that considerable technical work will be needed to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement,
(2) The twenty-second session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 22), in conjunction with the twelfth session of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Paris Agreement (CMA 1), was held in Marrakech, Morocco from 7 to 18November 2016,
(3) The high level outcome of COP 22, called the “Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development”,
(4) COP 22 Decision 19/CP.22 entitled “Implementation of the Global Observing System for Climate”,
Noting the text of the Paris Agreement, in particular with respect to its provisions that relate to scientific knowledge on climate, including research, systematic observation of the climate system and early warning systems,
Observes that:
(1) The forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA-45) held at COP 22 in November 2016 welcomed the submissions from WMO on the Global Climate in 2011–2015 and the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin;
(2) SBSTA-45 invited WMO to provide submissions on the state of the global climate on a regular basis, as appropriate, at subsequent sessions of SBSTA;
(3) The Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS) will provide information that may contribute to actions of nations, sub-national governments including cities, and the private sector to reduce GHG emissions through a measurement-and-modelling-based approach;
(4) The support of climate services to the energy, water, public health, transport and industry, agriculture and land use sectors contribute to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy through the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS);
(5) Many Parties in their submissions have emphasized the need for scientific information on climate variability, trends and extremes and the use of climate information and services;
Having considered that:
(1) Enhanced observation of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) may be important for the global stocktake, since the climate data records based on ECVs are used to close budgets of energy, carbon and water and to study changes in the growth rate of the atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), or interaction between land and atmosphere, in a more integrated way,
(2) WMO annual Statements on the State of the Global Climate provide scientific evidence for tracking climate trends with climate indicators,
Decides:
(1) That appropriate measures should be taken to promote the value and relevance of scientific information and data for the global stocktake under the Paris Agreement through WMO submissions and reporting mechanisms to UNFCCC, noting that the inputs of the global stocktake are to be decided by Parties to the Paris Agreement;
(2) To assist NMHSs to engage at national level, as appropriate, to design and implement GCF proposals, coordinate with National Designated Authorities (NDAs), develop and implement NAPs, and generate relevant climate information and services, particularly through implementation of the GFCS and IG3IS pilot projects;
Invites Members:
(1) To work at national level to fully engage NMHSs as critical actors in the cataloguing of extreme events, adaptation programmes, mitigation, and other areas that fall within the competency of their respective Services, and to contribute to the development of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), greenhouse gas monitoring systems and other observing systems;
(2) To engage in or, where necessary, establish institutional frameworks for climate services at national level that will serve as key coordination mechanisms to bring together stakeholders needed for the successful generation, tailoring, communication and use of climate services for enhanced decision-making;
(3) To actively participate in major UNFCCC meetings, such as COPs, SBSTA and SBI, including the participation of Directors of NMHSs as members of country delegations;
(4) To work towards the full implementation of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) implementation plan;
(5) To encourage active contributions by scientists, through peer-reviewed publications, to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, expected to be published in September 2018;
Requests the Secretary-General:
(1) To include information on high-level climate policy issues at all relevant events for NMHS Directors, to enhance their access to information on the role of NMHSs in contributing to the high-level climate policy agenda and implementation of the Paris Agreement;
(2) To continue communicating to Members through Ministries of Foreign Affairs to encourage them to invite NMHSs to contribute, as applicable, to periodic updates on adaptation communications, referenced in Article 7, paragraphs 10 and 11, of the Paris Agreement, including concerning their support to NAPs, NDCs and their involvement in national COP delegations.
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Draft Decision 4.1/2 (EC-69)
Recognition of WMO long-term observing stations
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
Recalling Decision 40 (EC-68) – WMO Recognition Mechanism of Long-term Observing Stations,
Affirming that Members’ collaboration on strengthening scientific knowledge on climate, including research and systematic observation of the climate system, informs climate services and supports decision-making,
Recognizing:
(1) That preserving long-term observing stations, including centennial stations, is a responsibility of governments for sustaining irreplaceable climate heritage to serve current and future generations’ needs for long-term high quality climate records,
(2) That WMO, as the international body with a mandate for the standardization and sustaining meteorological observations, values these stations,
Noting with satisfaction:
(1) That a recognition mechanism for long-term observing stations has been successfully developed by WMO involving close collaboration between the Commission for Climatology (CCl), the Commission for Basic Systems (CBS), the Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observations (CIMO), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the WMO Secretariat, and Members,
(2) That 36 Members, representing all six regional associations, submitted 86 candidate stations in response to an initial invitation to nominate not more than three stations to be assessed as part of the first list of candidate WMO centennial stations,
Noting further the evaluation of the above list of candidate stations by an ad hoc advisory board with CCl, CBS, CIMO and GCOS representation,
Decides to endorse the proposal to recognize a first set of observing stations as WMO long-term observing stations as provided in the Annex;
Invites Members:
(1) To collaborate on this initiative and promote it at highest national governmental levels, as appropriate;
(2) To consider seconding experts to the WMO Secretariat to support the work necessary for implementing and sustaining the WMO recognition mechanism for long-term observing stations;
Requests the president of CCl, in consultation with CBS, CIMO and GCOS, through the advisory board for the recognition of long-term observing stations, to consider the value of recognizing centennial stations that produce homogeneous time series useful for climate applications but which may not fully comply with the current WMO siting standards;
Requests the Secretary-General:
(1) To facilitate provision of information on the value of long-term observing stations at high-level climate policy events and provide further guidance for NMHS Directors to communicate at governmental level on sustaining and preserving long-term observing stations;
(2) To further promote the WMO recognition mechanism for long-term observing stations and to issue another call for nomination of candidate stations in early 2018.
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Annex: 1
Annex to draft Decision 4.1/2 (EC-69)
WMO recognition of long-term observing stations:
Summary of advisory board review
1. List of stations recommended for recognition (60):
RA / Country / Station nameI / South Africa / Cape Agulhas
Cedara
Roodebloem
II / China / Changchun
Yingkou
Hohot
Hong Kong, China / Hong Kong Observatory
Japan / Ishigakijma
Kirgizstan / Naryn
Baitik
Korea / Seoul
Busan
III / Chile / Quinta Normal
IV / USA / Blue Hill
Mandan
Olga
V / Australia / Hobart
Mt Boninyong
Yamba
New Zealand / Hokitika
Lincoln Broadfield
VI / Armenia / Gyumri
Gavar
Armavir
Austria / Wien-Hohe Warte
Kremsmünster
Sonnblick
Croatia / Gospic
Hvar
Cyprus / Lefkosia
Polis Chrysochous
Stavros Psokas
Czech Republic / Opava
Estonia / Vilsandi
Finland / Parainen Utö
Siikajoki Revonlahti
Sodankylä
France / Besancon
Mont-Aigoual
Paris-Montsouris
Germany / Brocken
Potsdam
Hohenpeissenberg
Greece / Asteroskopeio
Ireland / Valentina Observatory
Netherlands / De Bilt
Romania / Drobeta Turnu Severin
Calarasi
Spain / Izana
Tortosa Observatory
Daroca
Madrid Retiro
Sweden / Stockholm
Bjuröklubb
Hoburg
Switzerland / Col du Grand-St-Bernard
Säntis
United Kingdom / Rothamstedt
Balmoral
Eskdalemuir
2. Remaining candidate stations (26)
All other stations (26) to be re-evaluated for EC-70 in 2018 on the basis of more detailed information.
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Draft Decision 4.1/3 (EC-69)
STRENGTHENING WMO STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
Recalling Decision 25 (EC-68) - Strengthening WMO climate monitoring and assessment,
Recognizing that the WMO Annual Statement on the State of the Global Climate constitutes the WMO authoritative global synthesis of best available analysis and scientific information, with indicators for tracking climate trends, extremes and their impacts, complementing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports which are issued every five to seven years,
Noting with satisfaction that:
(1) The release of the five-year climate statement on the state of the global climate in 2011-2015 and the provisional annual statement on the state of the global climate in 2016 at the UNFCCC COP 22 attracted an unprecedented coverage by the media, including most renowned international TV and radio channels, and on social media, which enhanced WMO visibility and filled an information gap within the United Nations system for regular reports on the state of the climate to complement the IPCC assessments,
(2) The forty-fifth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA-45) held at COP 22 in November 2016 welcomed the submissions from WMO on the state of the global climate in 2011–2015 and the provisional annual statement on the state of the global climate in 2016 and invited WMO to provide submissions on the state of the global climate on a regular basis, as appropriate, at subsequent sessions of SBSTA,
Having considered that:
(1) A preliminary analysis of the value of the five-year climate statement on the state of the global climate in 2011-2015, based on a survey disseminated at RA II-16 shows an interest in providing multi-year climate statements (5 and/or 10 year based), albeit the survey also shows a modest number of Members (three out of 13) have actually used the publication,
(2) An expert meeting on WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate, 20-21February 2017, provided a pathway for improving the content and process of the WMO annual statement on the state of the global climate,
(3) WMO could also in the future issue special climate reports as the opportunity arises, based on a recommendation by the relevant constituent body,
Decides:
(1) To strengthen the WMO annual statement on the State of the Global Climate by adding, when feasible, information which requires multi-year analysis, such as carbon and sea level budgets and multi-year prolonged droughts, and to provide impacts information in partnership with other agencies;
(2) That WMO could issue multi-year climate reports, to address such issues as attribution of extreme events, which requires a multi-year perspective, and that launching such reports can be proposed by the Secretary-General to the Executive Council;
Invites Members:
(1) To make use of the information provided in the annual statements on global climate for informing relevant policy- and decision-making at national and regional levels, noting in particular the influence of climate variability and change on economic and societal aspects;
(2) To further support NMHSs’ capabilities which underpin robust climate assessment, including accelerating the recovery and digitization of old climate records, improving climate data management and leveraging remote sensed data and products for supporting NMHS climate monitoring activities to complement in-situ derived data and products;
Requests the Commission for Climatology (CCl) to work on improving the content of the annual statement and its publication process and to by provide providing guidance for Members’ contributions and input to the statement;
Requests the Secretary-General:
(1) To continue WMO Secretariat support to the annual statement on the State of the Global Climate;
(2) To further promote WMO submissions of the annual Statement of the State of the Global Climate to SBSTA, contributing to the high-level climate policy agenda.