Reaching Users with Climate SERVICES
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Weather • Climate • Water Vol. 60 (1) - 2011 BulletinFeature articles | Interviews | News | Book reviews | Calendar www.wmo.int REAChIng uSERS WITh ClIMATE SERVICES Interview with Jan Egeland on Climate Services 3 A photographer documents a warming world 23 World Meteorological Organization 7 bis, avenue de la Paix - Case postale 2300 - CH-1211 Geneva 2 - Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 81 11 - Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 81 E-mail: [email protected] - Website: www.wmo.int The new communications climate, ISSN 0042-9767 Revisiting the East African as seen by The New York Times Financial markets drive malaria debate 9 Dot.Earth blog 41 demand for climate models 34 “Getting climate information to those who need it most – the poorest and the most vulnerable – is the greatest priority.” Jan Egeland, Co-Chair, High-Level Taskforce of the Global Framework on Climate Services Bulletin Contents The journal of the In this issue ..................................................................................................................2 World Meteorological Climate services: Reaching the most vulnerable Organization Interview with Jan Egeland ............................................................................................3 Some Frequently Asked Questions: The Global Framework .................................................................................................5 Volume 60 (1) - 2011 for Climate Services Secretary-General M. Jarraud Revisiting the East African malaria debate by Samuel M. Waweru, Judith A. Omumbo, Bradfield Lyon, Deputy Secretary-General J. Lengoasa Madeleine C. Thomson, Stephen J. Connor ..................................................................9 Assistant Secretary-General E. Manaenkova The WMO Bulletin is published twice per year Partnering for health early warning systems in English, French, Russian and Spanish. by David P. Rogers ..........................................................................................................14 Editor J. Lengoasa Associate Editor N. Domeisen Survey of financial firms outlines climate information needs by the UNEP Finance Initiative .....................................................................................19 Editorial board J. Lengoasa (Chair) N. Domeisen (Secretary) Images of change: A photographer documents a warming world G. Asrar (climate research) by Gary Braasch .............................................................................................................23 C. Blondin (policy, external relations) G. Love (weather and disaster risk reduction) Financial markets drive demand for climate models R. Masters (development, regional activities) by Rowan Douglas .........................................................................................................34 B. Ryan (satellites) M. Sivakumar (climate) A. Tyagi (water) Bring financial and scientific analysts together J. Wilson (education and training) Interview with Dominic Waughray ...............................................................................38 Wenjian Zhang (observing and information systems) The new communications climate by Andrew C. Revkin .....................................................................................................41 Subscription rates Surface mail Air mail 1 year CHF 60 CHF 85 Student research for an informed generation 2 years CHF 110 CHF 150 by Teresa J. Kennedy and Donna J. Charlevoix ..........................................................44 3 years CHF 145 CHF 195 Creating a volunteer observing network E-mail: [email protected] Interview with Nolan Doesken and Henry Reges ........................................................48 Contribute to BLUE Art ........................................................................................53 WMO Milestones ................................................................................................... 54 The World Meteorological Organization .....................................................55 Copyright © World Meteorological Organization, 2011 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from articles in the Bulletin may be reproduced without authoriza- www.wmo.int tion provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Requests to publish, reproduce or translate articles in part or For more news on WMO and its partners: in whole should be addressed to the Editor. • MeteoWorld, WMO’s newsletter at www.wmo.int/pages/publications/meteoworld The designations employed in the WMO Bulletin and the pres- • Media centre, news at www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/news entation of material therein do not imply the expression of any • Web pages of WMO programmes opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its WMO Bulletin frontiers or boundaries. www.wmo.int/bulletin_en Opinions expressed in articles or in advertisements appearing Public Information Products and Website Management Unit in the WMO Bulletin are the author’s or advertiser’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of WMO. The mention of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) specific companies or products in articles or advertisements 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: + 41 22 730 83 85 does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not Case postale No. 2300 Fax: + 41 22 730 80 24 mentioned or advertised. CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] WMO Bulletin 60 (1) - 2011 | 1 In this issue Climate change is one of the great- deliver climate services through a A perspective est challenges facing humankind. global framework. from the media We have the means today to bring sector is offered life-saving information to those who by The New York need it most, and a responsibility to What users need Times Dot.Earth make this a reality. blog columnist, who asks for agility and Climate services are needed by all responsiveness to new online media, parts of society. This issue of the as we tap opportunities presented by WMO has taken the lead in addressing Bulletin features voices from the the rise in use of mobile phones and this challenge. At the World Climate sectors of health, financial services social media. Conference-3, WMO was asked to and media. convene a Taskforce to explore how climate knowledge could be put into In the health sector, collaboration Effective outreach action. The report of the Taskforce, between health researchers and the Communicating climate information Climate Knowledge for Action: A Kenyan Meteorological Service has effectively is challenging, and takes Global Framework for Climate Services brought new insight to the debates many forms. It can range from broad – Empowering the most vulnerable, linking malaria to a rise in temperatures sensitization through education and was launched in May 2011. in the East African highlands. media, to reports for specific sectors, conferences bringing together various This issue of the WMO Bulletin A companion article outlines communities in new ways, targeted contributes to the discussion on collaborative trends in health early communication of specific warnings reaching users with climate services. warning systems and includes a and more. We explore: summary of climate-sensitive diseases. • The case for a Global Framework It shows the scope for partnership We include a few case examples as for Climate Services between the health and meteorological food for thought. In education, we • What users need (perspectives communities to protect human health feature the forthcoming Student from various sectors) through health early warning systems. Climate Research Campaign, and • Effective outreach for climate share views on how experience-based services. In the financial sector, banks, investors, science education can contribute to insurers and reinsurers are important a young generation that is informed Reaching the most users of climate services. A survey of about science issues. An interview with vulnerable 60 financial institutions around the a volunteer observing network shows world shows how climate information how people can learn about climate Our opening articles make the case is becoming more important in the by being involved in data collection, for providing climate services to a decisions made by bankers and and make a valuable contribution wide range of people in society. An investors and outlines priorities by to science. Finally, a photo essay interview with Jan Egeland, Co-Chair sector. chronicles some of the changes around of the High-Level Taskforce for us, and suggests how photographers the Global Framework for Climate The growing demand for climate and meteorologists can work together Services, notes that the Taskforce was information from the financial to sensitize a broader public. unanimous in concluding that climate sector is driving the development of The next issue will feature more services can be made available rapidly operational climate forecasting, and user needs from various sectors and to those who need them most. a new supply chain linking scientists, financial markets and regulators is effective outreach practices. Please contact us if you have valuable cases To do so, we need to “connect the in the making. Two articles touch on and insights which you would like to dots” by using what is available, and by this trend, with a