Transforming science into action
For 75 years, WMO has transformed science into action: action that save lives, action for socioeconomic
prosperity, action that builds long-term resilience.
How? By gathering and sharing all the scientific data required for sound decision-making: to prevent a hazard
becoming a disaster, to inform infrastructure planning, to prepare for an anticipated upsurge in vector or water-borne diseases; to guide aeroplanes and ships on the safest, most efficient route. The examples are endless - and demand is increasing. Today, WMO is delivering on its vision of a safe, sustainable society and on the goal of Early Warnings for All by 2027.
Why? WMO is committed to global collaboration based on trust. Without trust, there can be no data exchange.
And without data exchange there can be no weather forecasts, climate monitoring or water management. WMO has overseen the development and improvement of numerical weather prediction models which have become increasingly accurate and powerful. But we now live in an era in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform weather prediction, delivering faster, better, more reliable data and services. What is WMO's role in that future?
In this issue, Forecasting the Future: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transforming Weather Prediction and
Policy explores the evolving role of AI and how WMO can empower Members to seize the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of this technology which is not a distant dream but a reality. Forecasting the Future, Now: How the ANDeL Project is Advancing Early Warnings with Deep Learning demonstrates that technology can be a game-changer for resource-limited National Meteorological Hydrological Services. While Governance and Artificial Intelligence, the Key to an Integrated End-to-End Approach to Early Warnings for All highlights China's success in using AI and issues a call to Members for cooperation to build a solid scientific foundation for risk-informed decisions.
In the drive towards the delivery of Early Warnings for All, technology is making the difference. Leveraging
the Common Alerting Protocol and Cell Broadcasting Technology for Advancing Early Warnings for All illustrates how more countries are now issuing inclusive actionable early warnings to people at risk, down to the last mile. Early Warnings for All - What does Success Look Like? shows that there are different answers but that the most important perspective is that of the end-users. Kenya's Commitment to Advancing Early Warning for All in Africa emphasizes the importance of successful implement of the initiative in the region.
The accelerating speed of change demands strategic vision for infrastructure planning. Building Tomorrow's
Observing Infrastructure: Technology Trends Shaping the Future of Hydrometeorological Monitoring looks at how technology, new partnerships and novel data generation methods will change observations in the years ahead. This year's IMO Prize Winner Gerhard Adrian provides insight into service improvements offered by Machine Learning and - with the benefit of his long and successful career - gives advice to early career scientists. The Role of Youth in Developing Science for Action is a matter of both urgency and equity because they will live with the long-term consequences of climate change and must be engaged in solutions.
As we look to the 75 years ahead, The Criticality of WMO to Economic Stability and Security is also undeniable. At a time when multilateralism is being challenged, the threats and disaster risk are not diminishing as highlighted in Future Sea-level Rise Is Certain, but the Amount and Speed Are Uncertain . Thus, the ever growing demand for WMO scientific data and services - which underpins trillions of dollars in economic activities - requires a scaling up in investment across the full weather, climate and water services value chain. This ranges from observations and data management to forecasting, early warnings and sector-tailored information services. Further investment is critical to the continued success of WMO and its service to society in the next 75 years.
