This OCP White Paper on the Future of National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Services – Evolving Roles and Responsibilities has been produced as a collective endeavour of a group of world-leading experts to analyse trends, challenges and opportunities in a dynamic environment. It is focused on evolving roles, responsibilities, operational scenarios and partnership mechanisms that define the future and work of NMSs as national institutions and key participants in the global weather, climate and water ecosystem of stakeholders. The primary objective of this paper is to inform key decisions on the future development of NMSs, consider risks, opportunities and scenarios for the foreseen institutional, technological and operational changes, and enable better governance choices to mitigate possible negative impacts. Another objective of this paper is to help set direction for WMO in its strategic planning process, with the recognition that NMSs play a decisive role for achievement of long-term goals and strategic objectives.

Public-Private Engagement No. 4