by: Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization
The Global Framework for Climate
Services (GFCS) was launched in 2009 by the World Climate Conference – 3
as a global partnership of governments and organizations that produce
and use climate services[1].
This initiative of the United Nations system seeks to facilitate global
access to continuously improved climate services in the four priority
sectors of agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction (DRR),
health and water by the end of 2017. The objective for end-2021 is to
facilitate access to improved climate services across all
climate-sensitive sectors.
As a next critical step, the World
Meteorological Congress will hold its first-ever extraordinary session
in Geneva on 29-31 October 2012 to decide on the Framework’s
implementation plan, governance model and rules of procedure.
Climate
services take advantage of the significant improvements that have been
made in climate prediction and in climate change scenarios. Useful
predictions of whether the next season, year or decade is likely to be
warmer or colder, or drier or wetter, than average, including at the
regional and country levels, are increasingly available. These
scientific advances rest on research into large-scale and long-term
processes, such as land-cover change, ocean temperatures and currents,
and greenhouse gas emissions. Key inputs are observations of today’s
climate, records of past climates, and computer-based scientific
modeling of climate processes.
As a result, seasonal to multiyear
climate forecasts and predictions can now be used to generate actionable
information for decision-making on all climate-sensitive sectors. A
growing number of countries are building on their experience in weather
forecasting to customize climate information and target it to specific
users. These climate services make it possible to incorporate
science-based climate information and prediction into planning, policy
and practice to achieve real benefits for society.
Climate
services often involve integrating climate information with information
from other sectors. This requires close collaboration between agencies
and experts from different fields. The resulting information must then
be presented in user-friendly formats so that policymakers, planners,
investors and vulnerable communities can prepare in advance. For
example, when presenting information in the form of probabilities,
climate service providers take special care to communicate the concept
of probability to people who may be generalists or specialists in other
fields. They also ensure that the information they generate is easily
accessible, whether via open websites, the public media or dedicated
delivery channels.
To succeed in expanding the scope and impact of
climate services, the Global Framework will be driven by the needs of
users. Lessons learned from existing climate services make it clear that
engaging the health, water, disaster and agriculture communities
requires supporting their existing priorities and work plans for
addressing the climate risks to these sectors. Climate service providers
also need to respond to the very specific needs of the distinct user
groups within these broad sectors. National capacity building is also
essential to ensuring that people fully understand the climate products
and can apply climate information effectively.
The GFCS actively
encourages a broad exchange of views about how to tailor climate
services. It advocates interdisciplinary collaboration between
government agencies, private companies and research institutions, and it
promotes collaborative problem-solving and “learning from others”.
Building trust with other sectors will encourage data sharing and make
it easier to assemble multidisciplinary datasets and products.
GFCS
also advocates for dependable funding to sustain national monitoring
and information infrastructure, from satellites and weather centres to
databases and trained personnel. Long-term operating and maintenance
costs also need to be secured. Unless governments invest in climate
prediction and information and in capacity development, it will not be
possible to ensure the delivery and use of climate services, which are
urgently needed by the people and communities who are the most
vulnerable to climate impacts. GFCS aims to maximize the efficiency of
these investments and make it easier for funders to assess the needs of
climate service users and providers and to see results and returns on
their investments.
The GFCS is an ambitious initiative. Its
success will be measured by its ability to establish an effective and
sustained global partnership, strengthened national and regional climate
services, and empowered people around the world to adapt and respond to
the impacts of climate variability and climate change. Individuals,
organizations and governments concerned about improving humanity’s
ability to adapt to climate variability and climate change are invited
to contribute to this effort.