Climate information use in European organisations: Insights from a quantitative survey.

In recent years, shifts in climate patterns, coupled with emerging policy drivers and frameworks, have significantly heightened the demand for high-quality weather and climate information within organisations. This information is critical to support adaptation decision-making across short, medium, and long-term horizons. Despite substantial international efforts in climate services, such as the Copernicus program and the Global Framework on Climate Services, gaps persist in our understanding of how organisations are adapting to this evolving landscape and effectively utilising information. To address this gap, we conducted a quantitative survey in late 2023, involving over 1,800 climate-sensitive organisations across almost all European countries, with particularly high representation from countries with larger populations and economies. This survey focused mainly on perceived organisational impacts due to weather/climate and information use. 

Our findings highlight that extreme heat and heavy rainfall are the most impactful events affecting these organisations, with significant concerns centred around the safety of people, the integrity of premises, and the continuity of service delivery and production. Notably, 77% of respondents actively use weather and/or climate information, and 51% of non-users anticipate future needs, suggesting that nearly 90% of organisations recognise the value of this information. This widespread utilisation underscores the vital role of information in strategic planning and risk management. However, a strong reliance on weather forecasts and limited adoption of seasonal to decadal forecast information suggest needs are not being fully met. Approximately 30% of climate information users specifically point to issues with the accessibility, reliability, and customisation of climate information as areas requiring improvement. Furthermore, respondents not currently utilising climate information cite a lack of expertise/resources, perceived unreliability or inaccuracy, difficulty in comprehension, and unfamiliarity as major barriers. Both these findings indicate that improvements are necessary in the tailoring and accessibility of climate services. Additionally, there is a need to raise awareness about the value and limitations of climate information, and to assist organisations in building in-house capacity and expertise. This will enable them to confidently understand and effectively utilise information in their decision-making contexts.

In conclusion, our study reveals a strong demand for tailored, reliable, and accessible climate information within European organisations. It highlights the importance of continuous improvements in climate service development and the establishment of effective governance mechanisms and structures to ensure their sustainability and effectiveness. As we move forward, fostering better engagement strategies, managing user expectations, and addressing the challenges in providing high-quality climate information will be imperative for integrating actionable climate knowledge into organisational planning and operations, thus enhancing resilience across Europe.