Elements for Life

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] 200

THE DELEGATES

from 170 Member States and

Territories of the World Meteorological

Organization (WMO), meeting in Geneva from 4

to 26 May 1999 at the Thirteenth World Meteorological

Congress, declare as follows:

note

that the United Nations General Assembly, the

Economic and Social Council and the regional economic and

social commissions have appealed to WMO to contribute,

within its field of competence, to the action taken at the inter-

national, regional and national levels to promote and support

sustainable development, especially activities pertinent to

weather- and climate-related natural disasters, climate change

and the protection of the environment.

further note

the contributions already made by, and

through, WMO in response to the above appeal, particularly

through the global ensemble of national Meteorological and

Hydrometeorological Services which is crucial to international

strategies for the protection of the global environment such

as in addressing climate change and stratospheric ozone

depletion issues, among others.

recognize

the importance of a unique and integrated

international system for the observation, collection, process-

ing and dissemination of meteorological and related data and

products, implemented within the framework of WMO’s

World Weather Watch.

We are

aware

of the need to ensure the appropriate imple-

mentation of the letter and spirit of Resolution 40 adopted by

the Twelfth World Meteorological Congress on the “WMO

policy and practice for the international exchange of meteoro-

logical and related data and products, including guidelines on

relationships in commercial meteorological activities”.

appeal

to all Governments to ensure that the national

practices in force in their countries, especially through their

national Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services,

conform with the above referred policy, practice and guide-

lines for the international exchange of meteorological and

related data and products.

reaffirm

the vital importance of the mission of the

national Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services in

observing and understanding weather and climate and in

providing meteorological and related services in support of

national needs. This mission may be expressed as a contri-

bution to national needs in the following areas:

(a) Protection of life and property

(b) Safeguarding the environment

(d) Ensuring continuity of the observations of meteorologi-

cal and related data including climatological data

(e) Promotion of endogenous capacity building

(f) Meeting international commitments

(g) Contributing to international cooperation.

are cognizant

that, weather and climate systems do not recog-

nize political borders and are continuously interacting. Hence,

no one country can be fully self-reliant in meeting all of its

requirements for meteorological services and countries need to

work together in a spirit of mutual assistance and cooperation.

express

deep concern about the potential impacts on the

provision of meteorological services worldwide of any develop-

ment which endangers the unique and integrated international

system for obtaining and exchanging meteorological and related

data and products; a system which has benefited the global

community for over 100 years. These developments can

adversely affect the effective and efficient provision of appro-

priate meteorological data, information, products and services

as well as the role and operation of national Meteorological and

Hydrometeorological Services, resulting in unfavourable impacts

on national economies, the environment, the well being of

peoples and the whole world community.

recognize

that it is for the various stakeholders in each

country, in full awareness of their country’s national goals,

requirements, resources and aspirations to evaluate and

decide on a country-specific strategy for future provision of

meteorological and related services and to find the greatest

possible harmony between the principle of their national

sovereignty and their international obligations under the

WMO Convention and other related environmental treaties

and agreements.

urge

that whatever form or model the national

Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services take, govern-

ment financial support be provided to operate and maintain

the required relevant basic infrastructure, monitoring and

services in the national and global public interest, and that

such support be strengthened where needed.

call

on all Governments to give due consideration to the

statements expressed in this Declaration. We believe that this

will be in the interest of sustainable development, in support of

national economies and social progress; and that this contributes

significantly to the reduction of loss of life and property caused

by natural disasters and other catastrophic events, as well as to

safeguard the environment and the global climate for present

and future generations of humankind.

ENEVA

ECLARATION

-XIII, 1999)

Geneva declaration of the Thirteenth

World Meteorological Congress