# Presentation: 526198

## Meteorological and Hydrological Cooperation within APEC: “Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities”

**Reduction of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters **
**  ***Dr. William H. Hooke, *
*Senior Policy Fellow*
*American Meteorological Society*

## Talk Outline

- the case for APEC emphasis on natural disaster reduction
- candidate meteorological/hydrological proposals
- related actions underway in the U.S.

## Reduction of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters:

- the case for APEC emphasis

## Natural disasters are:

- a public safety issue, but also
- an economic issue
- not just property loss, but also
- economic/business disruption,
- cross-cutting
- inherently regional/multinational

## Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Begun as an informal dialogue group, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community. Today, APEC's 21 member economies had a combined Gross Domestic Product of over US$18 trillion in 1999 and 43.85 percent of global trade. 				

## Infrastructure 

- uniquely vital
- to urban life and safety
- to modern economic development
- to APEC’s mission
- uniquely vulnerable

## APEC working groups

- industrial science and technology
- human resources development
- regional *energy* cooperation
- marine resources conservation
*telecommunications*
*transportation*
- tourism
- fisheries
- ...

## Natural disasters

- currently receive little publicity, but
- trigger losses comparable to “the Asian Flu.”
- are regional, not simply national
- will only increase in number and cost unless APEC acts

## APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group (ISTWG): PRIORITIES

- improved availability of information
- improved human resources development
- improved business climate
- contribution to sustainable development
- enhanced policy dialog and review
- facilitation of networks and partnership

## Meteorological/hydrological agencies should take the lead

**F**rom weather prediction to air pollution research, climate change related activities, ozone layer depletion studies and tropical storm forecasting, the World Meteorological Organization coordinates global scientific activity to allow increasingly prompt and accurate weather information and other services for public, private and commercial use, including international airline and shipping industries.
- WMO's activities contribute to the safety of life and property, the socio-economic development of nations and the protection of the environment.

## Reduction of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters:

- candidate meteorological/hydrological proposals

## candidate met/hydro proposals: build resilience to natural hazards

- Regional vulnerability assessments
- incentives for pre-event mitigation
- improved hazard detection/warnings
- build societal resilience
- create partnerships and put them to work
- measure progress
- learn from mistakes
- work cooperatively

## candidate proposalsbuild met/hydro services capacity

- Accelerate regional/multi-national investment in vital weather and climate monitoring and prediction infrastructure
- strengthen international commitments to free and open exchange of meteorological data
- augment weather and climate R&D
- improve meteorological education
- strengthen links to economic sectors

## Reduction of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters:

- related actions underway in the U.S.

## related actions underway in the U.S. (Bush transition documents)

- A National Priority: Building resilience to Natural Hazards
- A National Priority: Coping with Weather and Climate
- (both these documents stress international cooperation)