WMO and FAO sign climate MoU

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to further their joint response to climate variability and change. The newly strengthened partnership will see the organisations work together to develop agro-meteorological services and make these more accessible to farmers and fishers. They also aim to improve global and region-specific monitoring for early warning and response to high-impact events such as droughts. The WMO and FAO will collaborate on technical cooperation, joint programmes and project development. The agreement was signed by FAO director general José Graziano da Silva and WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas at an international seminar on drought held in Rome, Italy, on 19 June.