Climate variability and change influence the well-being of society through interactions with life-supporting systems. Humankind has always observed nature to monitor and predict climate conditions, thereby taking advantage of favourable conditions and managing associated risks.

The demand for climate prediction and information services will be even higher in the context of climate change and the increasing vulnerability of populations, particularly in regions where climate variability is high and which are prone to climate-related disasters. The sustainability of economic development and living conditions will depend on our ability to manage the risks associated with extreme climate events, which are likely to be of greater frequency, intensity and extent.

The First and Second World Climate Conferences (1979 and 1990) played a crucial role in alerting the world community to the need for a better understanding of climate systems, climate change and mitigation of its harmful effects, as well as an assessment mechanism and a framework for policy dialogue. This resulted in the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, respectively.

WCC-3 will build on the achievements of the First and Second World Climate Conferences. It will focus on how humankind can benefit from the advances in climate prediction and information services to manage climate-related risks as a way of developing resilience through adaptation. It will urge all countries worldwide to pool their resources and energies.

Recent natural disasters which inflicted devastating loss of life and property, and incurred food insecurity, demonstrate the urgency of jointly addressing climate-related risks for the benefit of society. WCC-3 is expected to propose global actions that will enhance the provision of climate prediction and information services and their integration into the decision-making process.

In this way, the world will be made safer, the use of natural resources optimized, food production enhanced and support to disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change increased.

WCC-3 will further the dialogue between countries at the 15th session of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (30 November-11 December 2009), by which they will agree on mechanisms to help meet the global goals of sustainable development.