WMO’s first-ever Extraordinary Session of Congress will be held from 29 to 31 October 2012 to decide upon the adoption of the GFCS implementation plan and governance structure; this may include establishing an Intergovernmental Board for overseeing GFCS implementation as well as a GFCS Secretariat. The Congress will be preceded by a Users Conference on 26-27 October that will give governments and other users of GFCS an opportunity to explore issues in greater detail.
Looking beyond the 2012 Extraordinary Congress:
- By end-2013, governments are to complete an organization-building phase. The Intergovernmental Board will establish the necessary management and executive (technical) committee structures as well as programs to undertake immediate implementation priorities.
- By end-2017, GFCS is expected to facilitate access to improved climate services globally in four priority sectors (agriculture, disaster risk reduction, health and water). Active technical committees for each component and an active communications program will be established. At least five United Nations entities will be involved, and GFCS will participate in at least US$ 150 million of climate-related development projects. A mid-term review of the implementation of the Framework will be completed.
- By end-2021, GFCS will have facilitated access to improved climate services globally across all climate sensitive sectors. At least eight United Nations entities will be involved, and GFCS will participate in at least US$ 250 million of climate-related development projects.