14th Session of the Panel on Polar and High-mountain Observations, Research and Services (PHORS-2026)

*This page is updated on 26 January 2026

Meeting Objectives

The meeting is focused on preparing PHORS inputs to the next WMO Strategic Plan, initially through the development of PHORS recommendations to the Executive Council. Any outputs from the meeting must be aligned with WMO's mandate and be actionable by existing WMO subsidiary bodies.

Venue

Level 12, Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, 33 Bunny Street, Pipitea, Wellington 6011

Venue Website: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/about/campuses-facilities/campuses/pipitea

The meeting will be held in a meeting room on level 12, accessible by lift.

Working Schedule

Registration will take place at the venue at 08:40 on Tuesday, 10 February.

The estimated schedule of the PHORS meeting is:

Working sessions (UTC+13): 09:00 to 12:30 and 13:45 to 17:15 NZ time.
Tea/coffee breaks within the morning and afternoon sessions.
Lunch: 12:30 to 13:45 NZ time.
Sessions will include a mix of plenary discussions and break-out group discussions.
The schedule may vary depending on the local conditions.
Virtual participation for key sessions is being considered, but the meeting will be predominantly in person to prioritize strategic discussions.
Remote participation will be by arrangement only.

Roles & Responsibilities of Champions/Co-Champions

Champions/Co-champions will have pre-meeting and in-meeting responsibilities, including to:

Liaise with their counterpart co-champion ahead of the meeting to prepare for presenting their particular topic at the meeting, including 3-5 potential recommendations that are suitable for discussion.
Facilitate the plenary discussion on your topic at the meeting to further add, develop, or remove any draft recommendations.
Chair breakout group sessions to further refine recommendations and draft text for inclusion in EC documents.

Tentative agenda in local time (UTC+13)

Time	Agenda item	Champion / Chair
Day 1 - Tue 10 Feb 2026 *Registration starts at 08:40 in the meeting venue
09:00-10:30	Session 0 - Karakia/Whakatou - Maori Welcome Welcome by indigenous Maori population of Aotearoa New Zealand (incl. kai/morning tea) Health and safety video from university Introduction of participants	Pūkenga (Leader): Trevor Shailer
10:30-11:00	Session 1 - Opening Opening by co-chairs Opening remarks by SG (recorded video) Adoption of the agenda Working arrangements and logistical information	Rob Argent; Roar Skålin
11:00-12:00	Session 2 - WMO strategic matters Principles (stay in mandate, etc.) Procedures and steps to achieve our outcomes Summary of current strategic plan Update from the Task Force on Prioritization Update from PAC on next Strategic Plan Gap analysis and what we need to keep	Rob Argent; Roar Skålin
12:00-12:30	Session 3 - Cryosphere as a WMO priority How to make the cryosphere a priority within WMO?	Lijuan Ma; Adnan Shafiq Rana
12:30-13:45	Lunch	—
13:45-15:15	Session 4 - 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5) Overview Goals of IPY-5 EC-79 decision How can WMO advance cryosphere priorities through IPY-5?	Gerlis Fugmann; Thamban Meloth
15:15-15:45	Break	—
15:45-16:30	Session 5 - Antarctic Regional Climate Centre (RCC) Current status Next steps Requirements for Strategic Plan of WMO	Rob Argent; Jonas Mphepya
16:30-17:15	Session 6 - Global cooperation How WMO can contribute to global fora as an authoritative voice on weather, water and climate Arctic Council ATCM COP - Earth Information Day/SBSTA Report from IYGP	Michel Jean; Co-chairs
Day 2 - Wed 11 Feb 2026
09:00-10:30	Session 7 - Tipping points Background document from WCRP assessment/workshop Several tipping points in cryosphere Does WMO have a role to inform? WMO SAP paper for NHMSs Invited speakers: Tim Naish; Thomas Stocker	Roar Skålin
10:30-11:00	Break	—
11:00-12:30	Session 8 - Cryospheric changes Glacier melt, including tropical glaciers How can WMO contribute to narrowing the observing gaps in the cryosphere?	Habiba Mtongori; Shawn Marshall
12:30-13:45	Lunch	—
13:45-15:15	Session 9 - Sea level rise What has developed within WMO over 2 years Which role WMO should take onwards	Garvin Cummings; Donaldi Permana
15:15-15:45	Break	—
15:45-17:15	Session 10 - Cryosphere research to operations and services Services white paper Cryo hazard-impact services Report on Antarctica - list of recommendations HydroSOS and the Global Water Report - input from PHORS members on variables to include	Ian Lisk; Sami Niemelä
Day 3 - Thu 12 Feb 2026
09:00-10:30	Session 11 - Observations and data exchange WIS 2 Presentation on GCW observing network What can WMO do to better include indigenous knowledge? What can WMO do to avoid duplication of work between (external) initiatives?	Wolfgang Schöner (online); Wayne Jenkinson (online)
10:30-11:00	Break	—
11:00-12:30	Session 12 - Artificial Intelligence opportunities Space to discuss AI-related matters raised over recent days Can AI be useful regarding the specific challenges of data-sparse areas? WIPPS in cryo (AI)	Roar Skålin; Michel Jean
12:30-13:45	Lunch	—
13:45-15:15	Session 13 - Writing session Develop the content of WMO documents for EC Champions to take responsibility for their topic	Topic champions
15:15-15:45	Break	—
15:45-17:15	Session 13 - Writing session (continued) Develop the content of WMO documents for EC Champions to take responsibility for their topic	Topic champions
Day 4 - Fri 13 Feb 2026
09:00-10:30	Session 14 - Decade of action for cryospheric sciences How can WMO be involved within available resources?	Carolina Adler; Shabnam Hadinejad Sabouri
10:30-11:00	Break	—
11:00-12:30	Session 15 - Algorithmic North: Weather, Security and International Law Article accessible here Are there specific steps that WMO can take to improve the situation? Perspectives from the South	Amanda Lynch (online); Neil Carson
12:30-13:45	Lunch	—
13:45-15:15	Session 16 - PHORS Workplan and priorities Bringing all pieces together into document(s) for EC Prioritize activities, given WMO's reduced budget	Rob Argent; Roar Skålin
15:15-15:45	Break	—
15:45-17:15	Conclusions / next steps Actions to prepare documents for PAC/EC Any other/unfinished business	Rob Argent; Roar Skålin