The World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2021 is devoted to the theme “the ocean, our climate and weather” .  It celebrates WMO’s focus in connecting the ocean, climate and weather within the Earth System.  It also honours that this is the starting year for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). WMO is committed to contributing with much of its work integral for the “safe ocean”, “predicted ocean” and “transparent ocean” goals of the Decade.

We are excited that this is the first WMD to celebrate an ocean theme! And we hope that you are too :)

For more information, you may wish to visit the WMD2021 official website for the WMO SG’s statement also available in French, Spanish and Russian. As well, you will find there under ‘Activities: Members/Partners’ a selection of excellent videos demonstrating the breadth of ocean-climate-weather related work and messages from Members and partners around the world. More will be added in the coming days.

A virtual World Meteorological Day event, will be held on Tuesday 23 March 2021 from 12:00 - 14:00 (UTC). This is open to the public via zoom connection (details on the WMD 2021 page - scroll to ‘Celebration at Headquarters’).   We encourage you to join and share the news with friends or colleagues who may also be interested.  Prof. Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary General; and Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN SG’s Special Envoy for the Ocean will address the opening of the event, followed by a selection of speakers covering topics from polar ocean-climate research, citizen science ocean observations, island youth climate action advocates, and the Earthshot Prize. 

If you follow social media, please keep an eye out for more teasers in the lead up to and on the day  – via the WMO twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.

Thanks to all for your efforts to support improving our understanding and value of ocean science for services - helping to build a more resilient future.