聯合國世界氣象組織（The UN World Meteorological Organization，WMO）與國際標準組織（International Organization for Standardization，ISO）協議，同來設定氣象、氣候及水資料、產品與服務的國際標準。
世界氣象組織秘書長亞羅（Michel Jarraud）9月16日在日內瓦的簽署典禮上表示，一些新的步驟將「闡明世界氣象組織文件的權威性並促進它們在國際上的知名度與推廣」。他指出：「強調國際標準的議題對國家水文學及氣象學服務工作將具有特別的重要性。」
國際標準組織ISO秘書長布萊登（Alan Bryden）表示，穩定一致的國際標準，將有助於這個世界因應氣候變遷的挑戰。他對這次的協議成功感到高興，並認為這是聯合國系統與他所屬單位增加合作關係的一個象徵。
ISO是一個扮演公部門與私部門橋樑的非政府組織，它是由157個國家的國家標準機構所形成的網絡組織，一個國家代表一個會員，位於日內瓦的中央秘書處負責協調整個網絡系統。許多ISO會員機構是他們國家政府結構的一個部分，或是委由他們的政府管理。其他的會員則為私人機構的一部份，它們是由許多工業協會以國家級夥伴關係建立起來的。
世界氣象組織WMO已經與將近30個ISO的技術委員進行網絡連結，共同發展水文測量（hydrometry）、空氣品質、水質、土壤品質、地理資訊、太陽能、石油天然氣工業、資訊科技、海洋、數量與單位的國際標準。
這個新的協議是想加強發展國際標準，並且避免在氣象、氣候、淡水及海洋資料上形成雙重標準。
亞羅在9月2日在法國蒙彼利埃（Montpellier）舉行的世界水大會（World Water Congress）上表示，因為氣候變遷對水資源造成影響，氣象預報必須在規劃經濟發展及減少貧窮上扮演更重要的角色。他說道：「將氣候變遷放在決策過程的主流議題，將會是所有開發及減緩貧窮的工作核心。」
亞羅提醒與會者，8個聯合國千禧年發展目標（UN Millennium Development Goals，譯註：2000年9月聯合國千禧年高峰會UN Millennium Summit由147個國家通過的目標）中有6個是跟水資源管理有關的，而由氣候變遷引起的嚴重水患、乾旱及氣旋（cyclones）正在阻擾於2015年達成目標的努力。
世界氣象組織分析家預測，未來幾十年的經濟及社會壓力，會加重糧食生產、其他農業活動及生質燃料生產之間持續增加的水資源競爭。
The UN World Meteorological Organization and the International Organization for Standardization, ISO, have agreed to cooperate in setting international standards for weather, climate and water data, products and services.
The new procedures will "clarify the authority of WMO documents and enhance their international recognition and dissemination," said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud at Tuesday's signing ceremony in Geneva. "This will be of particular importance to the activities of national hydrological and meteorological services in addressing standard issues," he said.
ISO Secretary General Alan Bryden said consistent international standards will help the world respond to the challenges of climate change.
He hailed the agreement as an illustration of the increasing collaboration between the UN system and his organization.
A nongovernmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors, ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 157 countries, one member per country, with a central secretariat in Geneva that coordinates the system.
Many of the ISO member institutes are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or are mandated by their government. Other members have their roots in the private sector, as they were set up by national partnerships of industry associations.
The World Meteorological Organization already has liaison status with nearly 30 of ISO's technical committees developing standards for hydrometry, air quality, water quality, soil quality, geographic information, solar energy, petroleum and gas industry, information technologies, marine, quantities and units.
The new agreement is intended to strengthen the development of international standards and avoid duplication related to weather, climate, freshwater and marine data.
Earlier this month, at a meeting in France, Jarraud said weather forecasts must play a greater role in planning for economic development and poverty reduction because of the impact climate change has on water resources.
"Mainstreaming climate change in decision-making processes will be central to all development and poverty alleviation efforts," he said at the the World Water Congress, held in Montpellier, France on September 2.
Jarraud reminded participants that six of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals relate to water resource management, and that severe flooding, drought and cyclones caused by climate change are obstructing efforts to meet the goals by their target date of 2015.
World Meteorological Organization analysts predict that in the next few decades economic and social pressures will add to the growing competition for water resources between food production, other agricultural sectors and production of biofuels.
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