The Evolution of Climate Services: Shifting Paradigms from commercial exploitation to Societal Engagement

The landscape of climate services is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the definition of a new framework. We call this new framework: Societal Climate Services (SCS). This shift has been primarily driven by a growing trend among large corporations to decrease their reliance on external climate service consultancies in favor of developing dedicated in-house departments. Such a move signifies a transition towards self-reliance in climate-related decision-making and strategy formulation, marking a departure from the traditional reliance on external expertise prevalent in recent research projects.

Traditionally, the development of climate services has relied on the co-creation, co-design and co-development (CO-CO-CO) approach, characterised by collaborative efforts among external experts, academics and researchers. However, the growing in-house expertise within these corporations indicates a significant shift towards more independent, customised climate solutions.

There is the need to shift the current climate services from a purely business approach to a new framework where the society is central. Societal climate services complement this evolution by expanding the focus beyond the needs of businesses to broader societal concerns, particularly in vulnerable and underrepresented communities, especially in developing countries. SCS aims to democratise climate knowledge and make it accessible and usable not only for businesses, but for society as a whole. This approach promotes a people-centred model of engagement where community participation and local knowledge play a central role in shaping climate solutions.

This summary outlines the principles of societal climate services and emphasises the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation for a comprehensive and integrated approach. It emphasises the role of SCS in building sustainable and resilient communities through long-term planning and investment in sustainable practises. It also emphasises the need for equity and justice in the provision of climate services to ensure that solutions do not exacerbate existing inequalities but contribute to their reduction.

The emerging momentum of companies developing internal capacity for climate services alongside the emergence of SCS is a key development in this area. This combination promises a more holistic and effective framework for addressing the multi-faceted challenges of climate change, ensuring that both business interests and societal needs are aligned in the pursuit of global climate resilience.