History of WMO

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Establishing the WMO

The International Meteorological Organization (IMO), as a non-governmental organization, served the cause of international meteorology well for about three-quarters of a century and that governments and meteorologists alike were generally well satisfied with such an arrangement. Towards the mid-1930s, however, it was becoming increasingly evident, at least to most meteorologists, that such a status for the focal point of international meteorology was incompatible with the importance which meteorology was at that time in the context of the vast economic and technological developments being made. By 1939, a draft of a new World Meteorological Convention (the Berlin Draft) had been prepared but further action on its approval was inevitably delayed by World War II. Some further progress was, however, possible - even during this difficult period - as the Secretariat was transferred to a neutral country, Switzerland, in 1939, shortly after the Berlin meeting.

The changed – and exciting – meteorological world which existed after the war was evident in the agenda for the Conference of Directors meeting which took place in Washington in September 1947. The 400 resolutions reflected the wide range of topics that had been considered at the meetings of the technical and regional commissions in Toronto the previous month – codes, units, diagrams, symbols, instruments, methods of observation, station networks, telecommunications, the safety of air navigation, climatological statistics, publications, documents, education, professional training, meteorological research, legal issues and administrative matters. Moreover, relationships between IMO and the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Telecommunication Union and the International Ice Patrol had been discussed, too. But the issue of greatest importance to IMO after the war was its status and structure.

Endeavours to resolve the matter began as early as February 1946, when the Conference of Directors asked the International Meteorological Committee to prepare a new IMO constitution, which would make the Organization an inter-governmental body. At the same time, the Com

WMO Milestones

2015	Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction adopts Sendai framework U.N. Sustainable Development Summit adopts sustainable development goals and 2030 agenda
2014	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report published Small Island Developing States Conference focuses on building weather and climate resilience among SIDS 25 years Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) anniversary The conclusion of THORPEX WMO Conference on Gender Dimensions of Weather and Climate Services The World Weather Open Science Conference
2013	50^th anniversary of the World Weather Watch High-level meeting on National Drought Policy, hosted by WMO IBCS-1 established its Partner Advisory Committee (PAC)
2012	Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress establishes the Intergovernmental Board on Climate Services
2011	WMO celebrates 60 years
2009	20^th anniversary of the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) World Climate Conference-3 builds on the legacy of the First and Second World Climate Conferences in 1979 and 1990
2008	20^th anniversary of the WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
2007	WMO-UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Mr Al Gore, former US Vice-President and environmental campaigner Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 20^th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol: WMO receives the Montreal Protocol Partners Award Launch of International Polar Year 2007-2008 co-sponsored by the International Council for Science and WMO International Conference on Secure and Sustainable Living: Social and Economic Benefits of Weather, Climate and Water Services (Madrid, Spain)
2006	WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin launched WMO Arctic Ozone bulletin launched Antarctic ozone hole most serious on record
2005	First World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Kobe, Japan) International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Mauritius) Secretariat of the international Group of Earth Observations established in the WMO Secretariat
2003	Celebration of 150^th anniversary of the Brussels Conference (1853) Second Technical Conference on the Participation of Women in Meteorology and Hydrology (Geneva) Launch of Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Programme, WMO Space Programme and Programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (under Technical Cooperation Programme)
2002	World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa)
2001	Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
1999	Inauguration of new WMO Headquarters in Geneva
1998	Launch of the World Weather Research Programme
1997	Kyoto Conference establishes target and timetable for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions International Meeting on the Participation of Women in Meteorology and Hydrology (Bangkok, Thailand)
1995	Climate Information and Prediction Services (CLIPS) established Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Foundation stone of WMO new Headquarters building laid
1994	First World Conference on Disaster Reduction
1993	World Hydrological Cycle Observing System (WHYCOS) launched
1992	United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) established International Conference on Water and the Environment (Dublin, Ireland)
1991	First meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
1990	Second World Climate Conference initiates the Global Climate Observing System International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction begins First Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
1989	Global Atmosphere Watch established to monitor atmospheric composition WMO and UNEP initiate the process which leads to negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
1988	WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change established
1987	Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
1985	Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer
1983	WMO long-term planning process established
1979	First World Climate Conference, leading to the establishment of the WMO World Climate Programme
1978	Global Weather Experiment and Monsoon Experiments under the Global Atmospheric Research Programme
1977	Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS) established jointly by WMO and the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
1976	WMO conducts first international assessment of the state of global ozone
1972	WMO activities in the field of operational hydrology designated as the WMO Operational Hydrology Programme
1971	Tropical Cyclone Project established, later upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Programme
1963	World Weather Watch launched
1957	Launch of International Geophysical Year 1957-1958 Global Ozone Observing System set up
1951	WMO becomes a specialized agency of the United Nations
1950	WMO Convention enters into force on 23 March

Nobel Peace Prize

IPCC Nobel Prize / WMO

The Secretary of the IPCC, Renate Christ, holding the Nobel Prize Diploma, with (from right to left), Michel Jarraud, Former Secretary-General of WMO 04-15; Mostafa Tolba, former Executive Director of UNEP; and Yuri Izrael, Vice-Chair of IPCC

The joint winners of the Nobel Peace Prize Award in 2007—the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Al Gore, former Vice-President of the USA and environmental campaigner—was announced on 12 October 2007. They were chosen for “their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".

The award ceremony took place at Oslo City Hall, Norway on 10 December 2007 in the presence of the King and Queen of Norway. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of WMO also attended, as did Mostafa Tolba, former Executive Director of UNEP. The late Prof. G.O.P. Obasi, former Secretary-General of WMO, and Dr Tolba provided the inspiration and leadership which culminated in the establishment of the IPCC by the two Organizations in 1988.

In his presentation speech, the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said that, for a long time, there had been great doubt about whether global warming was man-made but that, thanks to the IPCC, there was very little such doubt today.

The Chairman of the IPCC, Rajendra Pachauri, received the award on behalf of the Panel and gave a lecture, in which he paid tribute to the thousands of experts and scientists who have contributed to the work of the Panel over almost two decades of evolution and service to humanity. He also expressed his gratitude to WMO and UNEP, the co-sponsors of IPCC, for their support.

In a statement, Mr Jarraud said that the honour reinforced the need to integrate science and its findings on climate change into the political decision-making process with respect to global warming. The work of the IPCC had shown how vital it was for the scientific evidence on climate change—and mankind’s role therein—to be used as the basis for moving forward the political process on curbing climate change. The integration of reliable information in socio-economic decision-making was a prerequisite for sustainable development.

The IPCC Secretariat is hosted at WMO Headquarters.

The Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony takes place on 10 December every year—the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.

The Secretary-General with some of the past and present experts participating in the IPCC and members of the IPCC Secretariat

Presidents of the WMO

2019-2023: Gerhard Adrian (Germany)

2011-2019: David Grimes (Canada)

2003-2011: Alexander Bedritsky (Russia)

1995-2003: John W. Zillman (Australia)

1987-1995: Zou Jingmeng (China)

1979-1987: Roman L. Kintanar (Philippines)

1971-1979: Mohamed Fathi Taha (Egypt)

1963- 1971: Alf Nyberg (Sweden)

1955-1963: Andre Viaut (France)

1951-1955: Francis W. Reichelderfer (U.S.A.)

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Celebrating 70 Years of Progress in Weather, Climate and Water

WMO celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2020. Activities to mark the Organization milestone anniversary start on 23 March – the date the WMO Convention came into force in 1950. One year later, WMO became a United Nations specialized agency and, today, WMO Member States and Territories number 193. But the history of international cooperation in meteorology dates back much earlier than 1950.

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Former Secretaries-General of WMO

The World Meteorological Organization has had five Secretaries-General since 1952 - Michel Jarraud (1 January 2004 to 31 December 2015), Godwin Olu Patrick Obasi (1 January 1984 to 31 December 2003), Aksel C. Wiin-Nielsen (1 January 1980 to 31 December 1983), David Arthur Davies (1 January 1956 to 31 December 1979), Gustav Swoboda (1 January 1952 to 31 December 1955).

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History of IMO

The International Meteorological Organization (IMO) finds its origins in the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress, which tasked a Permanent Meteorological Committee to draft the rules and statutes of an international meteorological organization to facilitate the exchange of weather information across national borders.

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History of WMO

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History of WMO