By Lute Vakasiuola

Early warning of extreme weather events leads to early action and this saves lives, Tonga Meteorological Services (TMS) stressed at its 4^th Users’ Climate Outlook Forum, held in Nuku'alofa today, bringing together different sectors of the community to talk about its services.

The TMS presentations highlighted the critical role of Tonga meteorology and climate information for disaster risk reduction.

Today weather forecasts are no longer adequate, and it is the impact-based predictions that tell people what the weather will do, and are critical for saving lives and livelihoods.

 The Forum aims to promote user-friendly climate services and increase the resilience of Tonga's people to extreme climate events and climate change.

The National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) theme for this year, focused on the the theme of World Meteorological Day 2022: “Early Warning and Early Action”.

The various sectors represented at the consultation included fisheries, agriculture, health, water and sanitation, NEMO, tourism, media, women and education.

Thre were also representatives from the Red Cross, the disabled, people with special needs, provincial government, and other NGOs.

The discussion also covered aspects of forecast interpretation, its implications, and how the information can be used in sectoral planning, with the aim to trigger appropriate decision making and responses from sectors and communities.

Objectives of the forum are:

1. To improve the development and delivery of climate information, and to develop new climate information products and services that will contribute to the protection of natural resources, lives, livelihoods and property.
2. To discuss users’ views on how to make the weather and climate information accessible, user-friendly and relevant; in order to maximize the benefit derived by end-users from climate prediction and information services.
3. To ensure that climate information and products, including their uncertainties and limitations, are understood by and communicated to users.
4. To strengthen collaboration between the TMS with all national stakeholders and communities.
5.  Interact with users to assess the likely implications of Weather forecasts and Climate Outlooks on climate-sensitive sectors, such as Agriculture, Water, Health, and Disaster Risk Management.

At the same time, the various sectors also assessed the use of climate information in a national context, to identify capacity gaps and further strengthen the platform that bring together users of climate information, at the forum.