RA VI Working Group on Services and Applications Holds its Third Meeting -Highlights
On 24 June 2025, the RA VI Working Group on Services and Applications convened its third meeting via online platform to review progress and plan next steps for strengthening weather, climate, hydrology, agriculture, energy, marine, and related services across the RA VI region.
Following the second meeting, which was held in a hybrid format combining in-person and remote participation, the Group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Members in delivering high-quality, standardized services tailored to diverse sectoral needs. Stefan Rösner, the Group Chair who remains in office until the end of August despite his recent retirement, opened the meeting by welcoming participants and outlining recent organizational updates, including the consolidation of group roles — notably integrating aviation with space weather services and combining hydrology with cryospheric service responsibilities.
The core focus of the meeting was the review and refinement of the 2025–2027 Action Plan, aligned with WMO’s five strategic objectives. Due to budgetary constraints, only cost-neutral activities will advance during 2025, with other initiatives scheduled for 2026 and beyond. The Action Plan includes concrete tasks across all service sectors, emphasizing capacity development through webinars, case studies, and regional pilot projects, many in collaboration with key partners such as ECMWF, EUMETSAT, and regional training centres.
A significant highlight was the Group’s contribution to the RA VI High-Level Task Team on Early Warnings for All (EW4All). Key activities include the development of a hydrometeorological warning drill framework and the operationalization of AI-based nowcasting tools — both essential for enhancing early warning capabilities in the region. These initiatives, while financially dependent and potentially deferred to 2026, represent critical steps in improving disaster preparedness and response.
Members discussed task assignments, with specific leads designated for hydrology and drought monitoring (Angela), weather-to-seasonal forecasting and AI applications (Matthieu Chevallier), agriculture services (Ghennadii Roșca), space weather expansion (Daniele Biron), and health-related climate metrics (Esteban and Dan). Cross-sectoral coordination, including alignment with the Hydrological Coordination Panel and the Standing Committee on Services for Agriculture, was emphasized to maximize impact.
The meeting also addressed ongoing debates around integrating water reporting with climate reporting, noting the importance of maintaining clarity and consistency to support regional and global climate negotiations. The Group agreed to continue monitoring developments and coordinating closely with RCCs and partners such as Copernicus.
Participants were reminded of the transition to SharePoint as the main collaboration platform and encouraged to confirm task ownership ahead of the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for August 2025. The Group underscored the importance of proactive engagement and coordination to meet upcoming deadlines, including preparation for the next SERCOM session in spring 2026.
The RA VI Working Group on Services and Applications continues to play a vital role in enhancing meteorological, hydrological, climate, agriculture, energy, marine, and related services in the region, supporting Members in meeting societal needs through improved service delivery, capacity building, and innovation.