The first recorded account of these conferences dates from 1929 when the meeting was a Conference of Empire Meteorologists, with the recorded objective, ".... to establish methods of co-operation in meteorological work......you are expected to discuss various questions on which it is hoped that we....may co-operate helpfully with one another.".

Since then the conferences have been held, in general, every four years, to develop this cooperation which was reflected in the theme of the last meeting in 2001, "Working together to improve weather, water, climate and related environmental services in all Commonwealth countries". With a new format of active participation by the delegates and inclusion of external speakers the conference has set a way forward, to be continued at the next conference meeting.