1. Climate Applications & Services
World Climate Applications & Services Division
Climate Prediction & Adaptation Branch
Climate & Water Department

2. Towards Improved Societal Response and Sustainable Development
Relevant climate information is expected to improve policy and decision-making
Climate data
Climate analysis and monitoring capabilities
User-targeted climate prediction/information products
Climate risk modelling tools – Critical for decision making
There is significant diversity in demand and supply of climate information at national level
Needs and requirements of the users related to policy and decision-making
Needs, requirements and capabilities of providers

3. WCASP Objectives Development of user-targeted climate services
Services for sustainable development at national, regional and global levels
Contribute to strategies for adapting to, and mitigating, the adverse impacts of climate and its variations
Increased user awareness and liaison
Partnership with national/international agencies dealing with application sectors
Development of practical methods and techniques including climate prediction products
Implementation through CLIPS Project

4. New developmental needs and associated Climate service needs have emerged
Climate can be viewed as a risk and also as a resource;
Assessment of Climate Change and Variability with a regional focus;
Identification of key vulnerabilities (impact databases, current and future frequency of extremes, …);
Seasonal to Interannual Prediction (SIP) and regional climate outlooks;
Future climate scenarios;
Downscaling of SIP and climate scenarios;
Climate-related risk management:
Applications of climate products in decision-making;
Interpretation and use of probabilistic products;
Climate derivative products.
A high level of interdisciplinary knowledge is required for the development of climate products including assessment of uncertainties

5. Value of Climate Information and Services to Society
the nature of the dependence of socio-economic activities on climatic factors
reliability of climate products including awareness of the associated uncertainties and their implications to decision-making
accessibility of credible and useful climate information for decision making
liaison between users and climate information providers
the ability of users to act on the basis of climate information

6. Climate Services
The term “climate services” refers to the delivery of climate information and predictions from the scientific sources to end-users
A service is a service only when it is used; our goal is to make people use climate services in real-world context
Climate information is just one of the elements in the decision making matrix
Databases of information gathered over many years; NMHSs have great potential to exploit these resources to provide “effective” climate services
Predictions of climate variability over the next season or two (seasonal to interannual forecasts) are of immediate relevance

7. The Espoo Conference
Reviewed opportunities and constraints in integrating climate risks and uncertainties into the mainstreams of decision-making where sensitivity to climate variability and change is but one among many factors to consider.
The focus was on risk assessment and decision-processes in real-world contexts, including
agriculture and food security
water resource management
human health and disease control
energy and built environment
disaster preparedness and early warning systems

8. Climate-related Risk Management
Works best if it is:
driven by the needs and requirements expressed by relevant decision sectors
developed within real-world decision contexts
enabled through facilitating institutions and policies
based on environmental, sectoral and socioeconomic data
based on tailored climate information
supported by local capacity
included in planning strategies that incorporate incentives
supported by sector-specific services from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and related institutions.
Extracted from Espoo Statement

9. Heat Waves and Health Warning Systems
Reduce mortality and morbidity associated with life-threatening heatwaves
Strengthen WMO/NMHS partnerships with health and social services (global, regional, national) for effective service delivery – Met forecasts alone are insufficient
Develop Guidance on and tools for:
early warning and detection of health effects of extreme weather/ heat-waves;
national/local preparedness planning for extreme heat events;
public/media outreach;
interventions to save lives.
Guidelines on HHWS are being developed jointly by WMO and WHO, with input from IFRC, health research groups and other agencies

10. Climate and Energy
Promote use of climate data and services to support design, construction, planning and operation of their energy systems (renewable and traditional), with the associated benefits in efficiency, cost reduction, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
New Technical Note under development by CCl on ‘Weather and Climate Aspects of Renewable Energy: Solar and Wind’.

11. Climate Variability and Change: Issues for Tourism
Climate has a high priority in the choice of tourist destinations
Climate hazards threaten the infrastructure, the people, the financial networks and the ecosystems that underpin the success of the sector
Possible increase in climate-related risks associated with climate change is a matter of concern to the sector
Identifying windows of opportunity can contribute to growth of the sector and help optimize the use of climate as a resource
Tourism has potential impacts on climate, biodiversity, pollution, water resources which need to be understood to plan its sustainable growth

12. Urban and Building Climatology
New Technical Notes on Building Climatology and Urban Climatology under development by CCl Expert Team
Approach to developing building climatology:
Stage 1: Produce a basic regional climatology
Stage 2: Produce a local urban climatology
Stage 3: Provide micro climatic advice
Urban climatology and its relevance to urban design

13. CCl OPAG on CLIPS Research Needs Guides to Best Practices
Operations
Verification
User Liaison
ENSO Communication

14. Global Producing Centres of LRF
In 2006, nine centres making global seasonal forecasts were designated as WMO Global Producing Centres (GPCs)
GPCs adhere to defined standards – aiding consistency and usability of output:
a fixed forecast production cycle
a standard set of forecast products
WMO-defined verification standards (for retrospective forecasts)
GPCs designated: Beijing, ECMWF, Exeter, Melbourne, Montreal, Moscow (pending), Seoul, Tokyo, Toulouse, Washington
Access to all GPCs can be found through WMO page:
A comprehensive set of standard verification measures, with which to communicate the skill of forecasts, has been defined (the WMO Standard Verification System for Long-Range Forecasts – SVSLRF)

15. Regional Climate Centres (RCCs)
RCCs will be Centres of Excellence, designated by CBS and CCl, to perform regional-scale climate functions, including:
Operational LRF and Climate Monitoring
Coordination between RCCs, GPCs and NMHSs in the region
Data services
Climate Applications
Training and capacity building
Research and Development
RCCs will be complementary to and supportive of NMHSs, which will deliver all Warnings and national-scale products
Establishment of RCCs will be initiated by Regional Associations, based on regional needs and priorities
RAs will ensure guidance for and coordination between RCCs

16. RCCs and climate prediction
GPC global products essential input to RCCs
RCCs will downscale and develop regional-scale prediction products
RCCs will serve NMHSs, all latitudes/regions
End-users are sectoral experts, governments, the public
Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) would provide an outreach arm to the GPC/RCC operations, to engage regional climate/user communities and building networks of communities sharing common climate problems, particularly among developing countries.

17. Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs)
A component of CLIPS
First established in 1996: Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Regional mechanism for the formulation and dissemination of climate forecasts and outlooks
Bring together providers of and users of SIPs.
RCOFs constitute an important vehicle in developing regions for providing advance information on the likely climate features of the upcoming season, and for developing a consensus product from amongst the multiple available individual predictions.
RCOFs stimulate the development of climate capacity in the NMHSs of the area, and do much to generate decisions and activities that mitigate adverse impacts of climate and help communities adapt to climate variability.
Global review of RCOFs: November 2008, Arusha, Tanzania.

18. Existing RCOFs worldwide(

19. Global Climate Prediction Framework
Global Producing Centres (GPCs) and
Lead Centres
Regional Climate Centres (RCCs)
NMHSs
National Users
RCOFs
Global and Regional Users

20. WMO Initiative to Support Climate Change Adaptation
Endorsed by WMO Executive Council in June 2008.
Mission: To facilitate provision of user oriented climate information, products, advisories and services to support national and regional climate risk assessment, climate adaptation planning and implementation practices for sustainable development

21. Objectives
Facilitate use of climate information for mainstreaming climate risks in decision making
Make available data and information for developing adaptation strategies and integrating them in national development agenda
Enhance the national capacities in provision of user-oriented climate information
Help develop regional capacities
Support the scientific foundation for climate adaptation strategies

22. Observations Research Climate Information Capacity for AdaptationU T P S
Observations
Research
Data bases
Climate Scenarios
Climate Predictions
Climate Information
for Adaptation
User Specific Sectoral
Advisory Services
Capacity
Building
Climate
Monitoring
Information
Outlooks
Risk Assessment
Early
Warnings I N A V E
Feedback

23. WMO Initiative to Support
Climate Change
Adaptation
Climate Information
and Products
Climate Risks
Assessment
Climate
Outlooks
Early
Warnings
Regional
Climate Centres
Regional Climate
Outlook Forums
National Hydro-met
Services
User
Forums
A · P · P · L · I · C · A · T · I · O · N · S

24. Concluding Remarks
In many regions, there is limited use of climate information for decision making within climate-sensitive sectors. It is important to find ways for all countries to cope with climate variability through improved access to climate information and prediction products and the use of risk management techniques.
Location-specific information crucial; downscaling
Sector-specific climate indices (ETCCDI approach through partnerships with stakeholders)
Ownership
Observations to support regional/national vulnerability assessments as well as development and validation of modelling tools to support decision making
GPC-RCC-RCOF-NMHS climate prediction framework will need strong observational support and user participation to be effective.
The WMO Initiative to Support Climate Change Adaptation aims to tap into complementary efforts under different programmes, including GCOS, to meet the user needs.