The Hydrological Coordination Panel (HCP) met for its seventh session to discuss progress on WMO's hydrology priorities. Key discussions focused on strengthening hydrological services, data sharing, and the implementation of the Plan of Action.
The Hydrological Coordination Panel (HCP) - the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) think tank on hydrology - plays a crucial role in integrating WMO's hydrological work into the global water agenda.
The panel is committed to advancing WMO's long-term ambitions on water, which include ensuring that:
- No one is surprised by a flood.
- Everyone is prepared for drought.
- Hydroclimate and meteorological data support the food security agenda.
- High-quality data supports science.
- Science provides a sound basis for operational hydrology.
- There is a thorough knowledge of global water resources.
- Sustainable development is supported by hydrological information.
- Water quality is known.
The seventh session of the HCP took place at WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in February 2025. The session focused on three main topics:
Implementation of the Plan of Action (PoA) for Hydrology
The panel reviewed progress on implementing the PoA . The last status update was conducted on 23 May 2024 in preparation for the 78th session of the WMO Executive Council (EC-78) , with the next update scheduled for EC-79.
Coordination of Hydrological Cross-Cutting Issues
Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration across WMO technical commissions - the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM) and the Commission for Weather, Climate, Hydrological, Marine, and Related Environmental Services and Applications ( SERCOM ) - as well as the Research Board (RB). The panel emphasized the need for improved coordination to enhance hydrological services delivery and data sharing.
Governance and the Future Role of Hydrology in WMO
The panel explored strategic governance issues, including partnerships with external organizations and preparations for the WMO Extraordinary Congress in October 2025. These discussions aim to strengthen WMO's leadership in global hydrology and ensure hydrology remains central to WMO's work.
The HCP reaffirmed its commitment to advancing hydrological science, improving data quality, and enhancing service delivery to support sustainable development and global water security. The panel will continue working towards these goals in preparation for upcoming WMO sessions and engagements.
