Climate Services

Overview

The World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3), held from the 31st of August to the 4th of September 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, brought together more than 2000 climate scientists, sectorial experts and decision-makers. It established a Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) to strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services. A declaration establishing the Global Framework was adopted on the 3rd of September 2009 at WCC-3 by high-level policy-makers from more than 150 countries, including Heads of State/Government, Ministers and senior government officials of some countries.

Following the WCC-3 and the signing of the declaration, the South African Weather Service in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the World Meteorological Organisation hosted a workshop on the 19th to the 22nd of August 2013 with the aim of consolidating the country’s climate change and variability services by bringing together key stakeholders to assess the current provision of these services. The workshop was a success and the inputs from the various stakeholders in attendance resulted in a report titled The roadmap for implementation of the GFCS. The report informed the development of the South African National Framework for Climate Services

Vision

The National Framework for Climate Services strives to enable society to better manage the risks and opportunities arising from climate variability and change, especially for those who are most vulnerable to climate related hazards.

Mission

The National Framework for Climate Services will mainstream and enhance climate observations and monitoring information, forecasting and prediction and transform these into sector specific products and applications that can be disseminated widely, and further develop users’ capacity to manage risks of climate variability and change at all levels.

This will be done through developing and incorporating science based climate information into planning, policy and practice. To be effective, the National Framework for Climate Services will be user driven, and will address the entire value chain for the production, processing and application of climate services through local, regional and global collaborative efforts. The National Framework for Climate Services will serve as one of enabling tools for South Africa, in the transition towards building a climate resilient country.

Goals

Reducing the vulnerability of society to climate related hazards through better provision of climate information;
Advancing the key national development goals through better provision of climate information;
Mainstreaming the use of climate information in decision-making;
Strengthening the engagement of providers and users of climate services; and
Maximising the utility of existing climate service infrastructure.

The National Framework for Climate Services was developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment in partnership with the South African Weather Service. The South African Weather Service is responsible for the technical leadership in the implementation of the National Framework for Climate Services.

National Framework for Climate Services

Observations and Monitoring

This pillar helps ensure that the climate observations necessary to meet the needs of end users are made, managed and disseminated, supported by relevant metadata.

User Interface Platform

This platform is the pillar of the framework that provides a structured means for users, climate researchers and climate data and information providers to interact at all levels.

The Climate Service Information System

This system collects, stores, and processes climate data to provide information for decision-making in climate-sensitive areas.

Research, Modeling and Prediction

This pillar supports the development and improvement of tools and methods that will facilitate the transition of research to operational climate service provision and engender practical applications of climate information.

Capacity Development

This pillar will strive to enhance existing capabilities that are needed to enable manage climate risk effectively.