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The most relevant develop in the World Meteorological Organization community with regards to the four questions in consultation is The Review of Emerging Data Issues. The study report of the review is attached for reference. Although the report does not provide direct response to the four questions, it reflects the concerns and views of the WMO community in the changing context of Internet technologies and policies. Here is an executive summary of the report.
The review responds to a range of concerns raised by Members related to their preparedness for the rapidly growing volume and diversity of data, their growing awareness of the potential of ‘Big Data’ analytics, new data technologies, such as internet of things (IoT), and of the new players active in providing data and services, the changing approaches to data sharing as the diversity of data sources and players has expanded, and the implications of greater capacity and agility for innovation by the private sector on the operation of the overall global weather enterprise.
The discussion and the framing of potential advice to bring back to Congress roams from evolution to revolution, including the need to strengthen the 'irreducible core' of WMO and its Members through reinforcing the essential role of the World Weather Watch (WWW); the aspiration that 'no Member will be left behind' and that 'no Member stands alone'; the need to engage, be inclusive and build alliances, especially between the public, private and academia sectors; the need to create and exploit opportunities through data; and the need to challenge traditional pathways while recognising the important ongoing, though potentially changing, roles of people.
Emphasis is placed on harnessing the excellent work already being provided through WMO's response to data and technology, in particular through WIGOS, WIS/WIS2.0, GDPFS/S-GDPFS (which together are heralding WWW 2.0) and Service Delivery Strategy (SDS), on equipping Members with the essential tools and advice to adapt, adopt and respond to these opportunities, and on mobilising WMO as a brand focussed on standardisation, coordination and facilitation of a global community in the service of society. Recognising that some Members are better equipped than others to manage the challenges of increasing data volumes and technical complexity, the review calls for practical steps to equalise capacity, guide decisions and extract genuine value from data for all Members.
The review converges around the important reminder that data is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It is only through its intelligent use in engaging with users and in the development and uptake of services and associated outcomes that meet societal needs, that data delivers its full value, be it over the long term required for historical climate insight and impact management, the medium term for effective water and natural resource management and disaster preparedness, or over the shorter term to warn of, and support response to, impending severe weather events and disasters. The review provides a response framework featuring concrete actions centred on:
Thinking global:
Building on the fundamental role and strengths of WMO epitomised through its mandate and regulatory framework, its unique global science capacity, its global observing and data sharing policies and infrastructure, and its commitment to building capacity across all Members, and committing to implementing the next generation of WWW systems (WWW 2.0) that are fit-for-purpose for the evolving, and increasingly disruptive, data paradigm that WMO and its Members are experiencing;
Reinforcing the importance of a strategic approach to data and data sharing, and the leadership role and convening power of WMO in the overall global weather enterprise through proactive engagement and partnering with the wider community of participants, embracing the public and private sectors and academia, and through collaboration in reviewing the principles, policies and resolutions that underpin free and open sharing of meteorological and related data;
Supporting Members, through guidance material and WMO’s cascading processes, on emerging data and supply chain decisions, including on defining national mandates and policies in relation to weather, climate and water data and services; and
Aligning WMO programmes and the working mechanisms of technical commissions and regional associations with due consideration to emerging data challenges, risks and opportunities.
Acting local:
Harnessing the power of Members, data and people to inform choices across national data and service delivery supply chains, and to extract the highest value from data and the best outcomes for national and regional communities;
Building partnerships with non-NMHS data providers to extend the coverage of observations, to collaborate in the design of networks and targeting of services and to harness their voice as advocates;
Investing in people and capabilities for the long term through identifying current and emerging skill requirements that enable Members to uniquely deliver user-valued benefits and sustainable outcomes through more effective use of data and management of data infrastructure, with a focus on diversity, inclusion and collaboration; and
Leveraging digital communications and social media to build productive two-way connections with user communities.
Reaching out:
Embracing emerging opportunities in data, science, technologies and partnerships and harnessing the power of innovation and data-disruption, including through sharing experiences and participation in pilots and/or coordinated initiatives with partners across the global weather enterprise;
Implementing an innovation framework at the institutional level to identify and test new ideas aligned with priority needs and strategy, in the context of budget and capability; and
Reimagining what high-impact services might look like, including through expanding the concept of impact-based services into an integrated services approach, where publicly-funded-data is freely accessible and integrated with data from sector-based sources to develop more context-relevant and actionable services that directly inform and benefit users.
Emerging trends in data and data technologies offer the whole WMO community, individual WMO Members and the broader global weather enterprise, the challenge and the opportunity of new scientific and technological horizons. They challenge us to reimagine what efficient, effective and relevant services and service delivery could look like, how through working together in new and innovative ways we can better position ourselves for the future, and how genuine value can be delivered to society through and from data.
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