UN launches global effort to predict climatic changes

NEW YORK: The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today kicked off a drive to improve the ability to forecast changes in climate and cope with extreme weather patterns, such as desertification and drought.

Over 20 organisations are convening in Geneva to take part in a three-day meeting to discuss how to bolster prediction capacities to improve global responses to the impacts of global warming.

"We can better help the planet respond to the threat of climate variability and change by improving forecasts of temperature and rainfall patterns, as well as other climactic parameters, and then effectively delivering this information to governments, businesses, farmers and end-users in many other sectors," said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.

The Geneva gathering is the first meeting of the International Organizing Committee of the World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), which seeks to promote disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.