24 June 2022, Geneva – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) participated as an observer to the work of the 75th Executive Council Meeting of the World Meteorological Organization, which took place in a hybrid format from 20 to 24 June 2022.
PAM was represented by Amb. Putman-Cramer, PAM Permanent Observer to the UN in Geneva. The event saw the participation of several PAM Members from Algeria, Egypt, Monaco and Qatar – among others - and from various international organizations participating as observers.
The four-days-event was the opportunity for the Members of the Executive Council to discuss ways in which the WMO community can meet the growing environmental needs in an era of climate change, more frequent extreme weather, and water stress.
The conference provided useful inputs and insights from various experts, including Mr Rattenborg, external advisor for the European Commission and for the EU Environmental Agency, and Prof. Carmichael, from the University of Iowa, which will contribute to enrich PAM’s understanding of the complex environmental challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions.
On this occasion, the Council nominated Sue Barrell, world renewed meteorologist and leading climate expert, for WMO's top award, for her leadership in the weather and climate community, and her pioneering role in women in science.
During the conclusions of the meeting, Members of the Executive Council agreed on a long-term strategy to enhance Members’ capability to develop and use more sustainable climate, weather, and water services, in order to better support policymakers to implement sustainable development and mitigate weather, climate and water-related risks.
Finally, the WMO Executive Council agreed to readjourn in February-March 2023 to take stock of progress made and sought results of the meeting. PAM will closely monitor the work of the Executive Council, as well as other relevant activities and events promoted by the WMO.//