Earth Equity News

World Meteorologists Convene in Geneva. By Peter Capella, AFP, August 31, 2009. "Meteorologists opened the World Climate Conference on Monday in what a US official called a 'critical' attempt to share information globally and help communities worldwide adapt to climate change. Some 2,500 experts gathered against the backdrop of troubled negotiations to strike a global agreement on climate change at another conference in Copenhagen in December, which are marked by a rift between rich and poor nations. The Geneva conference would discuss how to boost long-term weather and climate forecasting, especially in Africa and developing nations, said Michel Jarraud, director general of the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO)... The Geneva conference is not part of the Copenhagen process, which includes talks on steps to help countries prevent or adapt to the impact of more extreme weather conditions produced by global warming, including finance for poor nations. But officials said that by allowing all countries to access information that would help them assess and adapt to changing temperatures, humidity levels, storm and wind patterns, it would provide a key building block. The outcome of the five-day meeting was 'critical to coping with climate variability,' White House associate director for environment Sherburne Abbott told reporters in Geneva. After years of skepticism on climate change under the administration of former president George W. Bush, the United States had turned up with a 50-strong delegation. And they were intent on 'sharing a large amount of information with the developing world,' Abbott said."