World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Activities on Climate and Health

The WMO community, including the Member states of the WMO Regional Association VI (Europe, South Caucasus, Middle East and Kazakhstan), in close collaboration with the WMO–WHO Joint Climate and Health Office and the WMO Regional Office for Europe, plays a central role in supporting the integration of climate, weather, and environmental information into health-relevant services and decision-making. Efforts are grounded in WMO’s policy instruments—including the Global Framework for Climate Services, the Unified Data Policy, and the WMO Strategic and Operating Plans—and are aligned with the priorities of the health sector through engagement with WHO, UN agencies, and national governments.

Key areas of action on the climate–health nexus include:

1. Operational Climate and Environmental Services for Health

WMO supports the development and operationalization of early warning systems and climate-informed services that directly protect public health. This includes:

• Heat–Health Early Warning Systems, enabling targeted public health responses to extreme heat events.
• Air quality and ultraviolet radiation services, including integration of forecasts and real-time data on pollutants and UV index into public information systems.
• Climate Watch Advisories, which highlight high-impact climate anomalies (e.g., prolonged heat or dry periods) to guide health preparedness.
• Sand and Dust Storm Forecasting, through the WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS) network, providing data and warnings on dust-related respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
• Hydrological Status and Outlook System, offering hydrological monitoring to anticipate risks from water scarcity, with implications for dehydration, hygiene, and disease outbreaks.

These services support risk reduction, particularly for vulnerable populations affected by heat stress, poor air quality, water-related diseases, or dust exposure.

2. Technical Guidance, Monitoring, and Tools

To support evidence-based health decision-making, WMO contributes technical standards, data platforms, and monitoring systems, including:

• WMO–WHO Climate and Health Bulletins, offering seasonal analyses of climate and health interactions.
• WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, supporting health-related climate policy by tracking emissions trends.
• Guidelines on Heat–Health Early Warning Systems, informing design and implementation at national and regional levels.
• Global Framework for Climate Services Health Exemplar, which sets priorities for health sector integration.
• WMO Unified Data Policy, ensuring free and open access to key datasets used in health and environmental modelling.

These resources help Member States and partners mainstream climate information into public health planning, surveillance, and emergency response systems.

3. Capacity Development and Regional Collaboration

WMO supports countries through targeted training, technical assistance, and regional partnerships:

• Workshops and training resources focused on impact-based forecasting for health, air quality, and heat resilience.
• Regional scientific forums and policy dialogues, such as the Second RA VI Scientific Forum, aimed at fostering cross-sector collaboration between meteorological, hydrological, and health communities.
• Support for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in co-developing climate–health services with national authorities.

This work strengthens institutional capacities and supports sustainable climate service delivery for health outcomes.

4. Engagement in Global and Regional Initiatives

WMO contributes actively to international health and climate initiatives:

Warnings for All (EW4All), ensuring that warnings related to extreme heat, air pollution, water stress, and vector-borne diseases are people-centred and reach health decision-makers.

• Implementation of the WMO–WHO Joint Climate and Health Office workplan, which fosters operational alignment and joint programming.
• Coordination of the RA VI Working Group on Weather, Climate, Hydrological, Marine and Related Environmental Services and Applications, including a focus on heat and air quality.

WMO’s regional and global networks ensure science-based climate–health services are integrated into development and disaster risk reduction frameworks.

5. Science–Policy Interface and Data Sharing Platforms

WMO fosters evidence-based policy and innovation through:

• Joint thematic events and publications, co-organized with health partners to explore heat, air pollution, and climate-informed public services.
• Opportunities for pilot demonstrations in cities and vulnerable regions to co-develop climate–health services in partnership with NMHSs and health authorities.

These efforts help translate climate science into actionable insights for health systems and inform long-term public health adaptation.