Doing Hydrology forward for Science-Policy-Practice nexus at the intergovernmental level: the case of World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental United Nations (UN) agency specialised in weather, climate and water-related infrastructure and services. It enables international cooperation at a global scale to promote scientific research based on the integrated Earth system approach, and facilitates the global exchange of Earth observation data and products.

The global agenda on sustainable development is strongly intertwined with intensifying hydrological extremes and issues of water availability and quality impacting the environment, food and energy security. The UN 2023 Water Conference further reiterated the role of water at the heart of climate action which evolved as a powerful opportunity to create innovative ways of working with many and diverse stakeholders. Thus, handling of hydrology at institutions/organisations requires effective cross-coordination and interdisciplinary approaches within not only related disciplines but also across science, policy and practice sectors.

The Hydrology, Water Resources and Cryosphere Branch at WMO’s Services Department contributes to strengthening the Science-Policy-Practice (SPP) interface through its various activities ranging from the State of Global Water Resources Report to the Hydrology Coordination Panel. The WMO Hydrology Action Plan and the WMO Hydrological Research Strategy (2022‑2030) have special emphasis on science-informed operational hydrology and effective water science-policy. In particular, the recently established unit “Global Processes and Water Policy” is aimed at highlighting the role of hydrology at the intergovernmental level, on platforms such as the Conference of the Parties (COP), the supreme decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In this talk, we will introduce ongoing efforts of the Hydrology, Water Resources and Cryosphere Branch at WMO, and share our experiences working towards the SPP nexus.