21 / 287
[
] 22
Statement by Dr Hamadoun Toure,
Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union
The science of climate monitoring has benefited greatly from the parallel development of information
and communication technologies (ICTs). Today ICTs play a critical role in global, long-range climate
monitoring. For example, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s Global Climate Observation
System (GCOS) uses ICTs in a plethora of ways. Radio-based remote sensors placed on satellites and
aircraft relay data to environment control centres. Telecommunication networks are used in the real-
time exchange of large volumes of data between meteorological centres. More generally, thousands of
interconnected mini-, micro- and supercomputers are used to process the enormous volumes of data used
in weather prediction.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) helped to establish the technical basis for the
use of ICTs in GCOS by providing the necessary radio frequency spectrum for the meteorological aids
radiocommunication service, as well as the satellite orbit resources for sensors used on the meteorological
and earth-exploration satellites. ITU also published the radio regulations and voluntary international
standards for telecommunications used by GCOS. Finally, ITU provided guidance on the use of ICTs in
environmental monitoring, as well as in the prediction and mitigation of the negative effects of disasters
linked to climate change.
WMO and ITU have collaborated for over 135 years. WMO formulates needs for environmental
information and the corresponding radio spectrum required. In response, ITU – through World
Radiocommunication Conferences – considers these requests and ensures the availability and protection of
the necessary frequency bands.
WMO and ITU are working together to raise awareness of the use of telecommunications and ICTs in
climate monitoring. A recent example is the ITU/WMO handbook:
Use of Radio Spectrum for Meteorology:
Weather, Water and Climate Monitoring and Prediction
.
Dr Hamadoun Toure
Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union