UNESCO-WMO Liaison Committee for Hydrological Activities

On December 9, the meeting of the UNESCO-World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Liaison Committee on Hydrological Activities was successfully held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. The President and Secretary of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Program (UNESCO IHP) Representatives of governing bodies such as the Division and the World Meteorological Organization Hydrological Congress attended the meeting. Abu Armani, Director of UNESCO Water Science Bureau presided over the opening ceremony, and Professor Zhongbo Yu, Chairman of UNESCO IHP, delivered a welcome speech.

This liaison meeting introduced the new management structure of the organization of hydrological activities, the strategic plan of the ninth phase of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Program, and the vision, strategy and goals of the World Meteorological Organization's hydrological action plan. Discussed follow-up to the United Nations Groundwater Summit, development of an international hydrology glossary, co-organization of the 2023 United Nations Water Conference, global water resources assessment and reporting, water and climate alliance, International Sediment Initiative (ISI), weather generator for climate change adaptation Immediate possibility to enhance cooperation in multiple ways such as applications (CRIDA). Potential areas of cooperation and activities such as basic science, monitoring, data access and use, flood and drought forecasting, water forums and conferences, education and training were considered.

The Liaison Committee for Hydrological Activities was established in 1973 by the UNESCO IHP Council and the WMO Hydrological Congress. The UNESCO IHP Council works on an overall scientific and educational program to support Member States in their research and training activities in the field of freshwater. The WMO Hydrological Congress continues to develop and implement a series of water resources and hydrology programs to meet the relevant needs of Member States. The two organizations work closely together to advance resilient water security systems.