Supporting Local Climate Action through Climate Indices: WMO Workshop in Latin America
To strengthen climate services in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), the WMO hosted a regional workshop on climate indices from 23-27 September 2024. The event took place in Lima, Peru, at the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (SENAMHI) and focused on meeting the training needs of Spanish-speaking countries in WMO Regions III and IV.
The workshop brought together 24 climate data specialists from 15 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Participants learned to use Climpact, an open-source software that helps analyze climate variability and trends using historical data and future projections.
Climate indices are essential tools in climate science. They help predict weather, monitor climate patterns, and manage risks. These tools also play a key role in shaping National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and other climate initiatives by turning complex climate data into actionable insights.
The workshop was a collaborative effort, organized by the WMO Climate Services Branch and the WMO Regional Office for the Americas, with support from the WMO Regional Training Centre for Peru, SENAMHI. Financial backing came from several sources, including the Adaptation Fund through the ENANDES and ENANDES+ projects, the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), the Iberoamerican Conference of Directors of Meteorological and Hydrological Services (CIMHET), and the CREWS Caribbean 2.0 Project.
This workshop marks a significant step forward in enhancing local capacity for climate services, ultimately supporting climate action across the region.