Kick-Off Meeting: RA II Pilot Project on Public-Private Engagement for Smart Meteorological Services in Mega-Cities (PPE-SMSC)
The WMO RA II Pilot Project on Public-Private Engagement for Smart Meteorological Services in Mega-Cities (PPE-SMSC) officially began with an online meeting on 25 February 2022. During the meeting, representatives from Regional Association II (RA II), Technical Commissions, and project hosts discussed the project design, progress, governance structure, workplan, and timeline, signaling the start of a new phase in this innovative effort.
Project Hosts and Goals
The PPE-SMSC project is co-hosted by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), and Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG). It responds to the Geneva Declaration (2019): Building Community for Weather, Climate and Water Actions, aiming to create integrated urban meteorological, climate, and water services using the PPE model.
Project Approval and Significance
Approved as one of the pilot projects during the Seventeenth Session of RA II in 2021 (RA II-17), PPE-SMSC is the first regional-level initiative of its kind. The project’s deliverables are designed for replication and scaling across other regions worldwide.
Key Remarks from Leadership
Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, president of RA II, and Dr Wenjian Zhang, Assistant Secretary-General of WMO, expressed deep appreciation and high expectations during the kick-off meeting.
Project Duration
The pilot project is planned to continue for four years, in line with the RA II Operating Plan (2021–2024).
Author’s summary: The PPE-SMSC project marks a pioneering four-year regional initiative to develop smart, integrated meteorological services in mega-cities, with ambitions to expand globally.