Addressing the need for a UK National Framework for Climate Services.

The UK has many elements of a strong National Framework for Climate Services, including national and regional networks, the UK national climate projections, and effective themed user groups which feed into activities such as the development of new climate projections. Work under the UK Climate Resilience Programme has engaged with stakeholders across the UK climate services community to understand the need and desire to develop this further. This presentation will focus on recent work funded by the UK Climate Resilience Programme on the need for a UK national framework for climate services.

The creation of a National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) is recommended to help coordinate, facilitate, and strengthen collaboration among the UK climate services community and improve the co-production, tailoring, delivery and use of science-based climate information and services. Without an NFCS the UK will likely fail to properly benefit from the activities and legacy of current public and private sector programmes and initiatives through a lack of continuity and continued difficulties bringing together multi and trans disciplinary approaches to adaptation and building resilience.

The recommendation is made following an 18-month project which engaged with more than 80 representatives from more than 60 organisations across the UK to determine the need for and benefits of implementing an NFCS.  National Frameworks are recommended by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) led Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) and there is evidence of benefit provided by NFCS in other nations.

The UK’s framework for climate services should (1) provide a driving force and mechanism for the pull-through and implementation of new data, knowledge and practices, aligned with national adaptation and resilience priorities; (2) enable knowledge exchange by building a UK community to link up different actors, promoting common language and understanding; and (3) establish and promote good practice, quality standards, and ethical practices within the UK community, as well as engage internationally and offer leadership where appropriate through partnership and collaboration.