1. Anahit Hovsepyan WCAS Filipe Lucio GFCS
Implementation of GFCS.
RCCs & RCOFs in Asia
Anahit Hovsepyan
WCAS
Filipe Lucio
GFCS

2. Climate Services Information System:
Outline
GFCS:
Background
Implementation at national level
Climate Services Information System:
CSIS implementation: main elements - Global, Regional, National
RCCs & RCOFs in Asia
CSIS Implementation: process – developments and recent progress

3. GFCS Vision
Enable better management of the risks of climate variability and change and adaptation to climate change
Energy
In 2009, the international community acknowledged the growing demand for climate services and established the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) to enhance the development, delivery, and use of climate information in decision making. This Framework provides a platform for understanding and responding to the climate information needs of the broad user community. Five target user groups have been recognized as GFCS priority areas for developing climate services in all countries including
Food security/agriculture
Disaster risk reduction
Water resources
Human Health
Energy
30 DAYS
1 SEASON
3 YEARS
10 YEARS
30 YEARS
100 YEARS
SHORT-TERM
INTERANNUAL
DECADE-TO- CENTURY

4. GFCS Implementation Five Step Approach Step 1: Assessing the baseline
Step 2: Initial National Consultation Workshop
Step 3: Joint Development of the National Action plan on Climate Services
Step 4: High-level endorsement of the National Action Plan on Climate Services by all entities
Step 5: Launch of the Framework at the national level, followed by implementation of the priority activities of the National Action Plan, rigorous monitoring and evaluation

5. GFCS Implementation Step 1: Assessing the baseline
What are the capacities of the country in the 5 GFCS pillars?
Which actors make-up the national chain for climate services? Who are the stakeholders/users/clients/partners?
What climate services are currently being provided? What are the needs? What gaps exist in climate service delivery?
Note: questionnaires are available to guide this process

6. GFCS Implementation Step 2: Initial National Consultation Workshop
Convene a workshop that brings together all national actors in the climate services space
Workshop outcomes
Enhanced understanding of the needs for climate services in different user sectors
Improved knowledge of the existing interface mechanisms and recommendations for improvements
Clear understanding of capacity development needs to implement the GFCS
Strategic guidance on institutional arrangements, partnerships and processes required to operationalize the GFCS at national level
The main aim of the workshop is to bring together experts from the national met service, government departments, universities and research institutions, key decision-makers, patners and practitioners fromt eh initial four priority areas of the GFCS

7. GFCS Implementation
Step 3: Development of the National Action plan on Climate Services - a common vision on how to jointly deliver and use climate services
Map the national chain for climate services specifying mandates/roles
List ongoing climate service initiatives, baseline assessments, and list priority activities
Establish a Governance mechanism for the National Framework, which will bring together all actors (multi-ministerial)
Draft legislation to clarify the legal framework
Note: Template for the Development of National Action Plan available

8. GFCS Implementation Step 4: Endorsement of the National Action Plan
Convene a high-level meeting with all national partners
Purpose: Validate the National Action Plan, secure funding and agree on steps for implementation
Step 5: Launch the National Framework
Decree creating NGCS is proposed to the national governmental authorities for ratification

9. The GFCS operational model,
User Interface
Users – Government, private sector, research – agriculture, water, health, construction, disaster reduction, environment, tourism, transport, etc.
Climate Services Information System
Observations and Monitoring
Research, Modeling and Prediction
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
The five GFCS pillars are as follows:
1. The User Interface Platform — to provide ways for climate service users and providers to interact to identify needs and capacities and improve the effectiveness of the Framework and its climate services;
2. The Climate Services Information System — to produce and distribute climate data, products and information according to the needs of users and to agreed standards;
3. Observations and Monitoring – to generate the necessary data for climate services according to agreed standards;
4.. Research, Modeling and Prediction — to harness science capabilities and results and develop appropriate tools to meet the needs of climate services;
5. Capacity Building — to support the systematic development of the institutions, infrastructure and human resources needed for effective climate services.
To address the entire value chain for the effective production and application of climate services, the above five main functional components or pillars of the GFCS need to be in place.

10. Climate Services Information System
The CSIS is the component of the GFCS most concerned with the generation and dissemination of climate information.
It is the ‘operational centre’ of the GFCS. It includes climate data, monitoring, prediction (monthly, seasonal, decadal) and projection (centennial) activities.
HLT report: ‘The Climate Services Information System is the system needed to collect, process and distribute climate data and information according to the needs of users and according to the procedures agreed by governments and other data providers.’

11. CSIS implementation: elements
Global: range of advanced centres such as the Global Producing Centres of Long Range Forecasts
Regional: a range of entities with regional responsibilities such as the WMO Regional Climate Centres
National: National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, other national institutional arrangements

12. Global Producing Centres for Long Range Forecasts

13. Regional Climate Centres
WMO RCCs are Centres of Excellence intended to perform regional-scale climate functions
Established at the request of the Members of the Regional Associations
Official accreditation given by WMO after a successful 2- 4 yr demonstration phase
Primary users are the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS)
RCCs are complementary to and supportive of NMHSs, who will deliver all warnings and national-scale products in the appropriate language.
Tries to adhere to WMO recommendations for open data and metadata sharing

14. RCCs in Asia
Designated: BCC, TCC, NEACC, RCC Pune (to be endorsed by EC)
In the process:
RA V Pacific RCC Network:
implementation plan developed
demo phase anticipated August 2017
South East Asian RCC Network
implementation plan developed and approved by the president RAV
Demo phase planned July 2017
Under consideration: RCC (network) Third Pole

15. Regional Climate Outlook Forums: concept
An RCOF is a platform that brings together national, regional and international climate experts and stakeholders’ representatives from countries in a climatologically homogeneous area to provide consensus-based climate predictions based on input from NMHSs, regional institutions, WMO Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), Global Producing Centres for Long Range Forecasts (GPCLRFs) and other climate prediction centers.
Through interaction with sectoral users, extension agencies and policymakers, RCOFs assess the likely implications of the outlooks on the most pertinent socio-economic sectors in a given region, and explore the ways in which use can be made of them.

16. Regional Climate Outlook Forums: process
A training workshop on seasonal climate prediction to strengthen the capacity of national and regional climate scientists;
Meetings of regional and international climate experts to develop a consensus for the regional climate outlook;
The forum proper, in which both climate scientists and representatives of user sectors interpret the available real-time seasonal prediction products from WMO GPCLRFs and RCCs, assess the skills of forecasting systems, develop the consensus seasonal climate outlook statement for the region, and discuss on the potential applications of RCOF products in decision making process
Special outreach sessions involving media experts to develop effective communication strategies.
The WMO Regional Climate Centres provide technical guidance and coordination to a majority of RCOFs.

17. RCOFs: revising the concept
3rd Global Review of Regional Climate Outlook Forums 2017
The RCOF process has accomplished 20 successful years with 19 forums operational around the world
In different regions, the RCOFs evolved in different ways
Users awareness improved, expectations are raising
Considerable developments and scientific achievements in sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasting methodologies, downscaling techniques, developing impact based forecast, and communicating tailored climate information to users.
RCOF Review will:
Review the lessons learnt
Identify opportunities and innovative approaches for RCOFs
Revise the RCOF concept

18. RCOFs worldwide RCOF in Arctic Polar under consideration
RCOF Factsheets - published

19. RCOFs in Asia FOCRAII: whole Asia NEACOF: CIS Countries
Largest RCOF
established in 2005
Coordinated by BCC
NEACOF: CIS Countries
Coordinated by NEACC
Since 2012, conducted twice – face to face and online
SASCOF: South Asian countries
Initiated in 2010, coordinated by RCC Pune IMD
Since 2015 held twice a year – for summer and winter monsoon
Conduct Climate Services User Forums: water, health, agricuulture

20. RCOFs in Asia EASCOF: ASEANCOF: ASEAN member countries PICOF:
established at 15th session of the RA II (Doha, 2012)
Built on Joint Meeting for Seasonal Prediction of the East Asian Winter Monsoon (2000)
ASEANCOF: ASEAN member countries
Established in December 2013
PICOF:
Initiated since October 2015 under Canada project
SPREP coordination
ArabCOF – under consideration
Scoping workshop held in 2014

21. CSIS implementation: National components
NMHSs
Primary climate information provider
National agencies
agriculture and forestry, marine (coastal and ocean), water resources, health, energy, the environment and disaster management, and other climate sensitive sectors;
National and local Govt. committees
dealing with policy formulation involving a consideration of climatic issues
National Climate Outlook Forums
Universities and other Research institutions
Non-governmental organizations
Private/public partnerships
NCOFs/NCFs
GFCS Nat. Consultations

22. National Climate Outlook Forum
NCOFs are envisioned as an essential mechanism for promoting inter-agency coordination and regular multi-stakeholder dialogue between information provider and users at the national level, which will support national level implementation of both the CSIS and the UIP pillars of the GFCS.
NCOFs facilitate provision of standardized climate products based on high quality climate information from Global Producing Centers (GPCs), Regional Climate Centers (RCCs) and relevant Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) at user-relevant scales.

23. NCOF Format
NMHSs (co-organized with key stakeholders) to convene regular forums at least once around the onset of main season to ensure the receipt, interpretation, communication, and application of climate information for managing risks.
Scheduled during an appropriate month every year to give enough lead-time for preparedness and contingency measures.
A post-season verification may also be held with provisions for forecast delivery and application for the next season.

24. CSIS Implementation: process
WMO Resolution 17 (Cg-XVI), 2011
To establish a Climate Services Information System with global, regional and national entities providing operational climate information, including data, monitoring and prediction products within the GFCS;
Implementation of CSIS should be guided by the Commission for Climatology
ICT-CSIS established at CCl-16

25. Climate Services Information System Early Developments: WMO
Strategy for Implementation of CSIS – April 2011
Defines top-level CSIS functions and formalized structures
Task Team on CLIPS Evolution – October 2011
Identified existing tools for CST
ET on CSIS – December 2012
Defines minimum CSIS elements at global, regional and national levels
Annex to the GFCS Implementation Plan: CSIS – 2014
Sets path for CSIS implementation and enabling mechanisms
April 11:
A set of top-level functions of CSIS to be defined on the lines of the operational functions identified for GPCs LRF and RCCs, such as (i) climate data management, (ii) climate monitoring, (iii) climate prediction and (iv) climate projection.
Formalized structures for CSIS elements and mechanisms are essential for standardization, sustainability, reliability, adherence to policies etc.
Knowledge of user requirements and understanding of how users apply climate information are fundamental to the successful generation and delivery of climate services.
NMHSs require a suite of tools, including guidelines on their use and respective training programmes, to enable them to efficiently apply global and regional products for generating tailored products for national climate services.
October 2011:
National Frameworks on Climate Services incl. basic, intermediate and advanced functions and national climate centres
and
Climate services toolkit: Definition, need, scope, standards, certification, candidates:
Data management tools: e.g. ClimatView, IRI Data Library, NOAA’s Weather and Climate Toolkit, CDMSs such as ClimSoft, CliSys etc.;
Climate analysis tools: e.g. Climate Explorer etc.;
Climate monitoring tools: e.g. CMT etc.;
Forecasting, downscaling and verification tools: e.g. Clik8; CPT; PRECIS, SCOPIC etc.
December 2012:
Elements of a minimum set of climate information outputs expected from CSIS (national, regional, global)
Elements of a minimum set of climate services expected from NMHSs (and relevant toolkit candidates)
Climate services toolkit requirements and potential candidate tools
Aspects of operations including standardisation and CSIS Technical Reference Manual needs and contents
GFCS Annex:

26. CST Developers Meeting - Relevant Climate Data, Products, and Tools
December 6-8, 2016 (Geneva) under CCl ICT-CSIS
Defining CST Core Capabilities
Defining CST Development Process
Identifying Steps for CST Deployment and Evaluation
Way Forward-Produce a “mock-up” of the CST

27. What is CST?
Data portal in public domain for access to and analysis of observations
Data management system for quality control and simple management of data
Climate monitoring tools for calculation of anomalies, percentiles, return periods
Software tools for conducting climate analyses, making predictions, and assessing projections
Guidance, procedures, and instructions serve as a starting point for climate services development and a reference tool
These products are accompanied by training materials specifically designated to support the generation and use of climate information and prediction products dedicated to user-target
CST Prototype:
CST is a suite of guidance, data, software tools, training resources, and examples for enabling climate services at global, regional, and national levels

28. WMO International Workshop on Climate Services Information System Operations and Coordination
Nanjing, China March 2017 focused on:
Developing the CSIS core capabilities
Refined scope and components of CSIS implementing coordinated plan of actions among the GPCLRFs, RCCs, NMHSs and GFCS partners
Approach to ensure CSIS long-term sustainability
Validated requirements on tailoring of climate information, to meet the needs of downstream CSIS entities such as RCCs and NMHSs or wider groups of targeted CSIS users
Statement of needs for training events to support the deployment of the Climate Services Toolkit, and accelerated usability of information provided by the CSIS

29. CSIS priorities-deliverables over the next year
Finalize the CSIS Climate Services Toolkit-
prototype
Produce Technical Guidance for developing climate services at the national level
Engaging potential donors and resource planning
Initiate prototype CSIS information systems incl. capacity development in GFCS priority countries drawing on successful approaches and existing networks

30. Thank you

31. What are Climate Services?
The accumulation of knowledge about the past, present and future of the climate system;
The development and delivery of a range of "products" and advice based on this knowledge about the past, present and future climate and its impacts on natural and human systems
Historical climate data sets
Climate monitoring
Climate watches
Monthly/Seasonal/Decadal climate predictions
Climate change projections
The use and the effective application of these products to help achieve the desired results.
A Climate service: Providing climate information in a way that assists decision making by individuals and organizations.
A service requires appropriate engagement along with an effective access mechanism and must respond to user needs.
Providing climate information in a way that assists decision making by individuals and organizations. A service requires appropriate engagement along with an effective access mechanism and must respond to user needs.

32. SERVICE DELIVERY AT COUNTRY LEVEL
Indicators for Global Policy Processes, e.g. unfccc Global stocktake, sdg 13
The schematic shows the elements of the CSIS. The top part is the seamless basic system. The bottom part is the conversion of the basic data and products to decision-support services. The horizontal arrow indicates that the CSIS elements are all necessary for a fully functioning system – historical data is used to validate models. The down arrows indicate that useable products can be generated from any point in the seamless continuum.
SERVICE DELIVERY AT COUNTRY LEVEL