What We Do
We help WMO to lead and inform relevant global agendas by channeling scientific and technical expertise into the wide and varied international events and negotiations that take place in New York, primarily at the United Nations. We ensure the voices of the weather, climate and water communities are heard in the political discourse and elevate the services they provide to help address global issues such as climate change and sustainable development.
WMO represents its Members at UN Headquarters, working with partners and other UN agencies, most notably through the UN General Assembly, the UN Economic and Social Council and the UN Secretariat, including supporting the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.
UN General Assembly
Comprising all Member States, the UN General Assembly is the main policymaking organ of the United Nations. The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year to discuss a wide range of items through a dedicated agenda, leading to the adoption of resolutions. The WMO office in New York supports the inclusion of scientific and technical information in relevant General Assembly agenda items, such as disaster risk reduction, protection of the global climate, combatting sand and dust storms, agriculture, food security and nutrition, amongst others.
In late September, soon after the opening of a new session of the General Assembly, Members convene at the highest levels in New York for High-Level Week. This week marks the opening the General Debate of the Assembly. High-profile Summits, such as the 2023 Climate Ambition Summit, are also held during this week to maximize high-level representation and impact. The WMO office in New York works with UN and non-UN partners to support WMO to actively participate in all summits and conferences relevant to its mandate during High-Level week and throughout the rest of the year
UN Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) sits at the heart of the UN System to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is a platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking and forging consensus on ways forward to achieve globally agreed goals. Many of its meetings – including the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held annually in July, and subsequent segments, such as the Humanitarian Affairs Segment and the Forum on Financing for Development – have a weather, climate or water connection. WMO supports these discussions with relevant scientific and technical information from the global weather, climate and water communities, and elevates WMO Members priorities in the discourse.
UN Secretariat
New York is the home of the UN Secretariat, including the Secretary-General, António Guterres. The WMO office in New York works closely with the SG’s Climate Action Team and other units, to support the SG’s calls for urgent climate action with scientific facts and advice. The WMO office in New York also channels WMO Members information into the UN Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC), the situational awareness and integrated analysis hub of the UN.
The WMO New York office also builds, and nurtures strategic partnerships based in New York and North America, outside of the United Nations, to further support the achievement of WMO’s long-term goals and strategic objectives.