30 October 2012: Peru and Switzerland have formed a partnership under the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) to conduct the “Climatic Services with Emphasis on the Andes in Support of Decision-making” (CLIMANDES) project. The project was announced during the World Meteorological Congress Extraordinary Session on the GFCS held from 29-31 October 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

CLIMANDES aims to improve climate services in the Peruvian Andes by building on experiences from the Swiss Alpine region. The Alps and Andes share similar characteristics, including the same influences of high mountain ranges on weather and climate conditions, and both are experiencing climate change impacts on their glaciers. The project will also facilitate the incorporation of information and lessons learned into environmental policy decision-making in the agriculture, education, energy, health, tourism and transport sectors. The project will further support trainings for students and professionals on climatology and meteorology at the new-established WMO regional Training Center, hosted by the National Agrarian University La Molina.

WMO Deputy-Secretary-General Jeremiah Lengoasa said the CLIMANDES initiative “embodies the spirit of the GFCS to pool our scientific advances and knowledge” and to reach out to vulnerable countries and communities.

CLIMANDES is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and will run until July 2015. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will provide overall project coordination. Peru’s National Service for Meteorology (SENAMH) and Switzerland’s Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) will be responsible for project implementation. [WMO Press Release]