RA VI Working Group on Services and Applications meeting- Highlights
The WG reviewed its priorities and ongoing activities, taking into account the outcomes of EC-80 and preparations for RA VI-19(II) and SERCOM-4. Discussions focused on setting priorities for the remainder of 2026 and 2027, taking into consideration available resources and the need to maintain progress in key areas, particularly Early Warnings for All (EW4All), impact-based forecasting, service delivery, climate applications and capacity development.
Members reviewed progress across the WG’s main areas of work: knowledge-sharing and capacity development, regional services and applications, and climate applications. Specific activities discussed included:
Early Warnings for All and impact-based forecasting: strengthening coordination with the relevant regional leadership and partners, and clarifying priorities and expected outcomes.
Drought monitoring and climate services: encouraging further responses to the drought survey, exploring options to restore region-wide Climate Watch services, and advancing tailored climate information, including ENSO-related information.
Services and applications toolkit: progressing the third edition of the Services and Applications Resources and Training Toolkit, incorporating additional resources on seasonal forecasting, interpretation and uncertainty, applications and training.
Data access: continuing national validation of the RA VI Data Access Dashboard and encouraging more Members to provide feedback.
Climate and hydrological reporting: maintaining coordination between the Regional State of the Climate report and the Regional Water Resources Statement, including cross-referencing relevant information.
Sector-specific services: considering further work on urban and health services, agrometeorology, energy and marine services, as well as opportunities to address emerging topics such as artificial intelligence.
Capacity development and cooperation: promoting the use of existing resources and the Knowledge Hub, sharing training opportunities, and exploring regional cooperation where feasible.
The WG also considered resource constraints affecting several activities, including space weather, the expansion of the climate and hydrological event catalogue, public-private engagement and other initiatives relying on Member contributions or additional funding.
Agreed follow-up actions included finalising the third edition of the toolkit, extending the validation of the Data Access Dashboard, strengthening coordination on EW4All and impact-based forecasting, following up on drought monitoring and Climate Watch, and maintaining coordination on climate and hydrological reporting. Members were invited to provide updates on their activities through the established Group Progress Reports process.
The WG agreed to continue prioritising its activities in line with regional needs, available resources and the outcomes of EC-80, while preparing for the next phase of work in 2027.