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As part of their process to formulate and implement NAPs, countries will need to analyse current and future climate change and impact scenarios. Many countries, in particular LDCs, have reported that data and information gaps constrain this analysis. In this context, scientific information and climate services offered by global, regional and national organizations and programmes are opportunities for countries to make use of robust scientific information and data to inform their adaptation planning.
The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) programme, established in 1992, promotes the taking of needed observations by national or international organizations for their own interests as well as for common goals (e.g. under the UNFCCC). The GCOS programme does not directly make observations nor does it generate data products. In contrast, its overarching aim is to ensure that the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues (e.g. data, climate services, adaptation and climate indicators) are obtained and made available to all potential users. To that end, it regularly assesses the status of global climate observations of the atmosphere, land and ocean and produces guidance for its improvement.
Through its Cooperation Mechanism GCOS also offers focused capacity-building and improvement of infrastructure in least developed countries and small island developing States in order to support critical networks. In some cases, this programme also includes funding of operating expenses of these networks.
Further information
- Global Climate Observing System Home | GCOS (wmo.int).
- GCOS Cooperation Mechanism GCOS | WMO.
The Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), established in 2009, is a UN-led initiative spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) that seeks to enhance the quality, quantity and application of climate information in support of decision-making at national, regional and global levels.
The services which are coordinated under the framework involve high-quality data from national and international databases on a selection of climate variables (temperature, rainfall, wind, soil moisture and ocean conditions) as well as maps, risk and vulnerability analyses, assessments, and long-term projections and scenarios. Depending on the user’s needs, these data and information products may be combined with socio-economic variables, such as agricultural production, health trends, population distributions in high-risk areas, and road and infrastructure maps for the delivery of goods.
One of its five components is a user interface platform, through which users can communicate their needs and ensure that climate services respond to them, thus promoting the coproduction of knowledge between providers and end users. Another important component is capacity development which will support the systematic development of the institutions, infrastructure and human resources needed for effective climate services. Priority is thereby given to climate-vulnerable developing countries. Capacity is aimed to be built in the areas of governance, management, human resources development, education and training, leadership, partnership creation, science communication, service delivery, resource mobilization and infrastructure. The GFCS also facilitates regional workshops that address gaps and needs related to the development and application of climate services at the regional level, and defines respective implementation priorities.
Through national projects the GFCS is supporting the integration of climate services in NAPs and has produced a supplement to the NAP technical guidelines on climate services for supporting climate change adaptation.
Further information
- Global Framework for Climate Services GFCS | Global Framework for Climate Services (wmo.int).
- GFCS implementation plan Documents | GFCS (wmo.int).
- GVCS regional workshops Regional Workshops | GFCS (wmo.int).
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has been established in 1950 and is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It provides leadership and expertise in international cooperation in the delivery and use of high-quality, authoritative weather, climate, hydrological and related environmental services by its Members. It is the key driver of many of the arrangements and programmes described in the sections below and has adopted a range of global standards, technical regulations and supplementary guides for carrying out observations that meet the quality standards required for open data sharing and the interoperability of systems.
A major contribution of the WMO to the observation and use of climate-related data is its coordinating function with regard to data producing systems and centres that are responsible for climate monitoring, analysis and prediction at national, regional and global scales. In conjunction with national and regional climate outlook forums these systems and centres play a vital role in the exchange of data and information. Climate outlook forums are gatherings of climate experts, policymakers and sectoral practitioners that together produce climate outlooks and discuss their likely impacts on key economic sectors. As such they provide a platform for data producers to interpret their products jointly with end users and for the end users to communicate further data needs. Such a coordinated approach serves as an important basis for the effective use of climate information for adaptation planning and implementation and are a good networking opportunity for NAP practitioners (see figure 3) In this regard they also play a crucial role in the context of climate services (see section 2.2.3).
The WMO also offers education and training programmes with a focus on capacity-building necessary for well-functioning meteorological, hydrological and climate services.
Further information
- World Meteorological Organization World Meteorological Organization | (wmo.int).
- WMO Capacity-development and education and training programmes Programmes | World Meteorological Organization (wmo.int).
- WMO and GCF. 2021. Developing the Climate Science Basis for Climate Action. Geneva. Available at doc_num.php (wmo.int).
- WMO Guide to Climatological Practices Guide to Climatological Practices | E-Library (wmo.int).