The World Bank and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing on closer cooperation in areas of common interest, particularly natural disaster prevention and mitigation, climate change, and phenomena such as El Niņo.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by World Bank Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Ian Johnson and World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Prof. G.O.P. Obasi, is designed to improve strategic collaboration between the two institutions.
"The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding," said G.O.P. Obasi, "will further contribute to developing synergies between relevant programs of the Bank and those of the WMO and thus promote the development of the capacity of nations in applying scientific and technical advances to national sustainable development plans. WMO's expertise and global network of national meteorological and hydrological services offers a distinct advantage to key activities of the Bank."
One element of more effective disaster management is the better use of climate information and forecasting. At the core of this strengthened cooperation is the establishment of a WMO-World Bank liaison in Washington. With the technical expertise of the WMO and the global touch of the World Bank, this information can be more effectively and expansively disseminated.
Developing countries are likely to be severely affected by climate change and water constraints, so they will need help in developing the financial, technical, and human capacity to adapt to a changing climate and increasing water scarcity. A pragmatic strategy on vulnerability and adaptation concerns will be developed and implemented by the two institutions.
"The promise of this partnership is the opportunity it offers to match the WMO's scientific and technical expertise with the Bank's economic know-how," said Ian Johnson. "Meteorology is central to everything from agricultural production to mitigating the effects of climate-related natural disasters."
Over the last ten years, the World Bank has provided almost US$9 billion in emergency loans to help countries recover from the impacts of natural disasters. Recognizing the link between climate phenomena and development, the international development community is starting to increase its capacity to assist client countries in devising and implementing suitable climate adaptation and disaster mitigation measures in the context of sustainable development.
For more on the World Meteorlogical Organization, visit www.wmo.ch.
