Review of ESACP/WMO Typhoon Committee Development in Past 50 Years

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (TC) is an intergovernmental regional organization, established by Governments of ESCAP Member Countries (or Member Territory) under the joint auspices of ESCAP and WMO in 1968 to minimize the typhoon-related disaster risk reduction and damage mitigation in the region and to facilities closer regional and international cooperation. As of 2017, there are 14 Members. The Typhoon Committee has been repeatedly recognized as an outstanding regional body who has integrated the actions and plans of the meteorological, hydrological, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) components to produce meaningful results. Its work is primarily centered on reduction the damage caused by typhoons and floods, and focus on the following: 1) review the progress made in the various fields of typhoon damage prevention; 2) recommend the participating governments on plans and measures the improvement of community preparedness and disaster prevention; 3) promote the interested Governments and other interested organization for the coordination of research on typhoons; and 4) provide financial and technical support for plans and programs upon request. The paper reviewed the development of the Committee in the past 50 years in the aspects of establishment; membership, secretariat and programme components; strategic plan; and cooperative mechanism. The paper also states the areas of technical activities to be enhanced in the region and the proposals to enhance the Typhoon Committee’s regional and international collaboration mechanism on typhoon-related disaster risk reduction and damage mitigation.