Editorial

The first of our feature articles in this issue of Tiempo is a discussion by Penehuro Lefale of the use of indigenous knowledge in climate research. Taking a project in Samoa as an example he argues that indigenous knowledge and perspectives have a real and important role in the documentation of climate variability and climate change.

Lisa Schipper provides an overview of the dominant issues that arose at the Eighteenth Session of the Subsidiary Bodies in Bonn, Germany, in June 2003. The outcome of the Sessions indicated that there remains a significant divide between developed and developing countries over a number of important issues and that these must be dealt with at the Ninth Conference of the Parties to be held in Milan, Italy, in December of this year.

Saleemul Huq and Mizan Khan continue a series of articles on the development of the National Adaptation Plans of Action in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the main LDC issues that need to be addressed at the Ninth Conference of the Parties.

The Sri Lankan Meteorological Observatory Station in Colombo provides vital data for the analysis and prediction of weather forecasting and global change for Sri Lanka. Lareef Zubair outlines the difficulties confronting the Colombo Station in maintaining the integrity and quality of its meteorological data and the attempts by concerned scientists and researchers to overcome these difficulties.

Finally, Weather Eye presents a selection of views on the trade talks that took place in Cancun, Mexico, in September 2003 and we consider the issues discussed at the World Climate Conference held in Moscow, Russia, shortly afterwards.