The outgoing WMO head, Michel Jarraud, has placed strong emphasis on upgrading observational infrastructure and working methods of the meteorological profession to help countries adapt to climate change. Satellite technology and super computer-based projections have made five-day forecasts as accurate today as two-day forecasts 25 years ago, yet developing countries have fallen behind the technological frontier. Weather forecasting has risen sharply in political salience ahead of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) on climate change in Paris in December.
Large-scale investment is needed to bring weather agencies in low-income regions up to basic functionality standards .
Development agencies will look to their countries' meteorological agency as a delivery partner in climate change adaptation.
Weather forecasts can help those countries most affected by climate change to avoid direct losses and optimise economic production.
