Tashkent, Uzbekistan - World Meteorological Organization (WMO) President Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous addressed the 36th Session of the Interstate Hydrometeorological Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative action in response to the escalating climate crisis.
Dr. Al Mandous expressed his gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for hosting the event and commended the CIS countries for their continuous engagement and joint initiatives. He highlighted the critical findings of the WMO's 2024 Global Climate Report, which revealed record-breaking global temperatures, sea levels, and ocean heat content, along with alarming losses in Antarctic and Arctic ice extent and glacier mass. The President stressed that these findings serve as a stark call to action.
The urgency of the climate crisis demands that we accelerate the implementation of the Early Warnings for All Initiative and significantly scale up financial contributions." - Dr. Al Mandous.
Dr. Al Mandous also emphasized his commitment to promoting the importance and visibility of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to secure political, administrative, and financial support. Citing the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2025, which identifies extreme weather events as the top risk in the coming decade, Dr. Al Mandous emphasized the need for CIS Members to enhance their contributions to national socioeconomic development and ensure timely implementation of WMO Global Initiatives like Early Warnings for All (EW4All), Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W) within CIS community. He urged the CIS NMHSs to evolve and develop new capabilities in serving the national key economic sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, transportation, and freshwater supply.
Furthermore, Dr. Al Mandous highlighted the ongoing restructuring process within the WMO Secretariat, an effort aimed at creating a more modern, efficient, and agile organization capable of effectively serving its members. He specifically encouraged experts from CIS member states to apply for the recently announced job opportunities within the Secretariat. Dr. Al Mandous emphasized that a strong representation from diverse geographical regions and member states within the WMO Secretariat is crucial for ensuring a broad range of perspectives and expertise, ultimately strengthening the organization's ability to address global challenges effectively.
In closing, Dr. Al Mandous appealed to all members to support the strengthening of WMO governance, including the enhancement of the roles of the Executive Council, Regional Associations, Technical Commissions, and the Secretariat. He expressed his hope that this CIS meeting would lead to the development of concrete collaborative strategies and projects, focusing on WMO strategies and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. He mentioned the recent WMO AI conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the insights it will bring to the upcoming Extraordinary session of Congress in 2025 (Cg-Ext(2025)) .
About the ICH/CIS with WMO
The Interstate Council on Hydrometeorology (ICH) is subordinated to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The ICH activity is guided by the CIS rules, regulations, procedures, and legislation, as well as by the decisions of the Council of Presidents, the Council of Prime Ministers, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and the Economic Council of the CIS.
The Interstate Council on Hydrometeorology of the Commonwealth of Independent States (ICH), established in 1992, plays a pivotal role in fostering regional cooperation in hydrometeorology. Guided by CIS regulations and agreements, the Council works closely with international organizations like WMO to address critical environmental and climate challenges, ensuring the timely exchange of hydrometeorological data and supporting sustainable development across member states. The ICH of CIS has concluded Working Arrangements with WMO in 1996.
