World Meteorological Organization

Why is in news? UAE wins Presidency of World Meteorological Organization

• A meteorologist of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous has been elected as the new President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for a four-year term from 2023 to 2027.
• The election took place during the 19th session of the World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19) held in Geneva, Switzerland from 22nd May to 2nd June.

World Meteorological Organization:

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology and geophysics.
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), the roots of which were planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
• It was established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences a year later.
• The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, is headed by the Secretary-General. Its supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress, which meets every four years to set policies and priorities.
• WMO has 187 Member States and 6 Member Territories. Members are divided into six regions: Region I: Africa, Region II: Asia, Region III: South America, Region IV: North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Region V: South-West Pacific, Region VI: Europe.
• The WMO facilitates the "free and unrestricted" exchange of data, information, and research between the respective meteorological and hydrological institutions of its members.
• It also collaborates with nongovernmental partners and other international organizations on matters related to environmental protection, climate change, resource management, and socioeconomic development.