Public Education, Outreach and User Interface Haleh Kootval Chief, Public Weather Services WMO 24 May 2006 09/12/2018

Main Issue Wealth of accurate data and information Use to mitigate and prevent many weather, air quality, climate and water-related natural disasters What prevents the effective use of this information? 09/12/2018

Linear Information “Supply Chain” Public Atmospheric Observation Community Local & Regional Air Quality Managers Operational Forecasting Community Public Health Officials Hazard Alerting Community 09/12/2018

Why Information fails? NMHSs provide technical data, information on weather, climate and water to the public and specialized users Information is accurate but not integrated in decision making process No training on how to use information effectively Lack of recognition of both science and human elements in good information delivery 09/12/2018

Main Issue How can we as a community of providers and consumers of information do better? How can we involve everyone who is involved in serving the community by providing, interpreting, getting it out and getting it to those who need it A closed circle of end-to-end-to-end 09/12/2018

Community of Practice Gary Foley, US EPA 09/12/2018

What is Needed? Who are the participants? Suppliers and users of information – will often include local community representatives Recognition that all of the participants in the information chain are part of the decision process Increase in the open exchange of information between all participants 09/12/2018

What is Needed? Effective translation of environmental information into informed decisions Enable effective decision making by individuals as well as agencies Better and more local training and education 09/12/2018

Community outreach Activities in Hong Kong Luncheon with media 09/12/2018

Community outreach Activities in Hong Kong 09/12/2018

How are We Approaching This? WMO is engaging own community and users communities at national, regional and local levels to develop “communities of practice” Encouraging and sharing best practices, most often from developing countries Using “community of practice” concept to remove gaps between provision and understanding and use of information 09/12/2018

How are We Approaching This? Strengthening NMHSs role Quality forecasts and warnings User understanding of products and services User understanding of the uncertainty in forecasts and warnings Equip other members of the “community of practice” (e.g. the public) to make informed decisions More attention to user understanding and potential impact to respond appropriately to official information from NMHSs 09/12/2018