The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) continued to strengthen their bilateral relations on the occasion of a coordination meeting in Geneva on 18 October, between the PAM Secretary General Amb. Sergio Piazzi, PAM Permanent Observer Amb. Gerhard Putman-Cramer, and the newly appointed Director of Cabinet and External Relations Department of WMO, Mr. Rob Masters.
The discussion, which follows also the nomination of Mr. Petteri Taalas of Finland as the new Secretary General of the WMO, aimed at reinforcing the exemplary collaboration between the two organizations in view of the forthcoming COP 22 international conference in Marrakech on 7-17 November 2016.
PAM and WMO enjoy a long-standing partnership due to the commitment of the Assembly to tackle in a proactive manner climate change in the Mediterranean basin and its effects on the populations of the region and the Sahel. The role of national parliaments in support of the legislative efforts for the sustainable economic and social progress in line with the required implementation of international agreements on climate change was also highlighted. Furthermore, Mr. Masters expressed the need for parliaments to provide the necessary instruments and to support the national agencies responsible for the meteorological sector, which play a fundamental role in disaster prevention and other climate issues.
Earlier this year, PAM and the WMO had already closely worked together in assisting the Moroccan Scientific Committee responsible for the MedCop Conference in Tangier.
A high level meeting between PAM President, Sen. Lhou Lmharbou, PAM Vice President and Rapporteur on Climate change, Hon. Michel Vauzelle, and the WMO Secretary General, has been also scheduled to take place in Marrakech at the margins of the COP event.
WMO will also organize a meeting between PAM Secretary General and the newly appointed Secretary of the Geneva-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Abdalah Mokssit of Morocco.