Tonga as regional chair is looking for increased support at the regional level for improved meteorological and hydrological services at the 18th Session of the World Meteorological Organisation Congress in Geneva.

WMO is hosting its 193 member states of the United Nations from June 3-14, with the aim to hold in-depth discussions, consider and approve the WMO Strategic and Operating Plans and Budget for the next four years. 

Tonga is represented by 'Ofa Fa’anunu, Director of Tonga Meteorological Services, Tonga's Permanent Representative to WMO and President of WMO Regional Association V representing countries of the Pacific and South East Asia Region. 

Fa’anunu hopes to achieve in this meeting a clear linkage of the WMO Strategic Plan and Budget to the priorities of the Regional Association V for 2020-23 and emphasise the need for more investments for Pacific small island developing states (PSIDS). 

The baseline budget of WMO proposed is $266 million Swiss Francs. which are contributions of its 193 Members.

Tonga contributes $12,966 Swiss Francs to the budget of the WMO every year, which is 0.02% of the budget. 

Hydrology

Recently WMO raised the profile of hydrology in the services it delivers and requires the participation of hydrological advisors of member counties to raise and hold deep dive discussion on the core activities of WMO in the next eight years. 

This is to ensure that adequate actions and budget are committed to not only to improve water resources management but support multi-early warnings of droughts and floods. 

Taaniela Kula, Deputy CEO, Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources attends as Tonga's Hydrological Advisor to WMO. 

Since Tonga was elected President of the RAV in October 2018, it has more influence on WMO policy decision-makings. WMO provide important technical and specialised assistance for the development of Meteorology in Tonga to better provide the Meteorology Department to provide its services. 

Meanwhile, Pacific countries at the session includes Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Australia and New Zealand.

Tonga’s attendance is funded by Government.