Note: edits made on 09/09/09 as full statement released.

Between the 31st August and 4th September 2009 over 2000 climate scientists, sectoral experts and decision-makers convened in Geneva, Switzerland to take part in the high profile World Climate Conference - 3 (WCC-3).  Organised through the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the overarching theme of the conference was "climate prediction and information for decision-making".  

Scientific advances, needs and capabilities in climate predictions were discussed as were the challenges and opportunities for various economic sectors and society around the world to use climate predictions and information more effectively to adapt to climate variability and change and to manage the associated risks.

On 3rd September, these discussions culminated in a High-Level Declaration by heads of state and government, ministers and heads of international organisations from over 150 countries (including Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations and Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services.  A summary of the Framework is given below (for more details see the WCC-3 Briefing Note - link below).

This Framework will address the need for improved climate information and for an effective interface between scientists, service providers and decision-makers. Specifically, it will look to "integrate seasonal to multi-decadal predictions and long-term climate projections into decision-making in all socio-economic sectors through an effective two-way dialogue between providers and users ensuring that decisions relating to managing climate risks are well informed, more effective and better targeted".  Socio-economic sectors particularly sensitive to weather and climate extremes include agriculture and food security, forestry, energy, water, health, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure, tourism, wildlife, trade and transport.

• In Summary

The Framework will have four major components:

• Observation and Monitoring;
• Research, Modelling and Prediction;
• A Climate Services Information System;
• A User Interface Programme.

The first two components are considered to be well established but need strengthening, and the latter two components together constitute a "World Climate Service System".

The User Interface Programme will bridge the gap between climate information being developed by climate scientists and service providers, and the practical information needs of users.  The Climate Service Information System, through a network of global, regional and national institutions, will synthesise information streaming from the Observation and Monitoring, and Research, Modelling and Prediction components, and will create information products and services at various spatial-scales for decision-makers.  Importantly, it will focus on standardisation and quality assurance of information and communicating the highest quality information possible to decision-makers from global to local scales

Professor Rowan Sutton, Director of the NCAS-Climate programme attended the conference as an expert in decadal climate change and predictability, providing expertise at round-table discussions and contributing draft documentation for the longer conference statement (to be released on 8th September 2009 - see website links, below).
said: "As a climate scientist I very much welcome the establishment of this Framework.  It will not only strengthen international climate research and collaboration, and therefore enhance climate prediction capabilities but it will also build a bridge between climate scientists and users around the world" 

Although implementing this Framework is likely to be costly, the costs are likely to be very small in the context of the overall costs of adaptation.  Additionally, reducing uncertainty in climate predictions can be expected to reduce costs of adaptation (see NCAS Press Release below).

The next steps to developing a Global Framework for Climate Services will be the formation of a task-force consisting of high-level independent advisors, with inputs from a broad network of experts.  Within 12 months of setting up the task-force, and after wide consultation with governments and relevant stakeholders, a report will be produced that will include the next steps for developing and implementing the Framework.

• For more information see:

Executive Summary and Full Conference Statement (released 08/09/09)
WCC-3 website
High-Level Declaration statement
Framework Briefing Document
NCAS press release: Targeted investments in climate science could present enormous economic savings for the UK and Europe

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