Enhancing the Environmental Sustainability of Operational Monitoring Programs: A Strategic (and Pragmatic) Approach

Environmental observations are foundational to the weather, water, and climate enterprise, driving prediction and service delivery efforts to protect the safety and prosperity of populations. Operational monitoring programs provide these observations in the interest of the “public good,” but can have deleterious impacts on the environment. As organizations worldwide seek avenues to reduce their environmental footprints, attention has been directed toward operational monitoring programs, with focus on the environmental sustainability of observing systems and methods. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched a dedicated initiative in this regard in 2021, which has advanced through a series of panel discussions, presentations and dedicated sessions at meetings and conferences, and an international survey and workshop with broad international participation. While technological innovations to reduce high-profile environmental impacts (e.g. waste from radiosondes) have been a point of emphasis, a key takeaway from the initiative is the need to consider environmental sustainability across the observing system life cycle, from network planning and procurement, through installation and operation, and on to maintenance procedures and decommissioning. Motivated by this, Canada will conduct an “opportunity scan” of its operational weather and climate monitoring program, assessing current technologies and procedures across the observing system life cycle and identifying opportunities to reduce environmental impacts. These opportunities will be assessed based on their feasibility and practicality of implementation within logistical and financial constraints. The outcomes of the opportunity scan will inform Canada’s strategy to enhance the environmental sustainability of its operational monitoring program. This presentation will provide an overview of the opportunity scan approach, preliminary outcomes, and Canada’s nascent environmental sustainability strategy, providing practical guidance for other countries and organizations on approaches for greening the weather, water, and climate enterprise.