In 2011 the sixteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-XVI) requested the WMO Space Programme, in coordination with the Inter-programme Coordination Team on Space Weather (ICTSW) to develop both near- and far-term action plans for implementing an internationally coordinated Space Weather Programme. This guidance was an outgrowth of progress made by the ICTSW, as well as results from a Cg-XVI Side Event titled, “Global Preparedness for Space Weather Hazards.” Participants in the Space Weather Side Event acknowledged:

• The increasing risks of Space Weather events to all WMO Members due to the increasing reliance on advanced technologies;

• The diversity of sectors impacted by Space Weather, including: navigation, communication, electric power, pipelines, satellites, and aviation, as well as the impacts on core meteorological observations;

• The actions being taken today by industries and governments to prepare for, and respond to, Space Weather storms and related indirect hazards;

• The progress already achieved in establishing ground-based and space-based observing networks;

• The progress already achieved in establishing a framework of Space Weather prediction and service centres;

• The need for coordinated near-term and far-term actions in order to plan and implement capabilities that will meet regional and global Space Weather requirements, as identified in the WMO Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR) in a sustained, comprehensive, robust, efficient and integrated fashion;

• The capacity of WMO Members to contribute to a globally coordinated system of observations and services, relying on their national R&D and operational assets, as well as on international partnerships;

• The benefits that can accrue to all WMO Members from increased WMO coordination of Space Weather activities; and

• The need to raise awareness, advocate the benefits, and provide training so that WMO Members can take advantage of coordinated Space Weather activities.

The ICTSW, co-chaired by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is comprised of experts from 13 WMO Member States and six international organizations. During 2011, the ICTSW adopted an initial work plan which focused on reviewing observational requirements and data management standardization issues for Space Weather. The ICTSW-reviewed observational requirements have, for the first time been compiled and entered into a new WMO on-line observational requirements database allowing for both greater visibility, and wider review of these requirements. The database and accompanying User Manual can be viewed at: www.wmo-sat.info/db. All Space Weather requirements can be viewed under the application area “Space Weather”.

Lastly, an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is planned for the end of 2011 with components that include a training module on Space Weather (available in both English and Chinese), a suite of standardized international Space Weather products, and a WMO website for posting these products and other information related to the ICTSW and WMO's work in Space Weather.