People, Places, Possibilities and Partnerships: Preparing for a National Climate Service

Reflecting Kelly Redmond's commitment to a collaborative and participatory approach to climate applications, the author will explore the importance of engaging partners and customers in the development, implementation and emergence of a national climate service program. The presentation will draw on the author's experience in climate science and risk management programs in the Pacific, development of regional and national climate services programs and insights emerging from participation in NOAA planning for a National Climate Service. In this context, the author will briefly discuss some of guiding principles for effective climate services and applications including:

• Early and continuous dialogue, partnership and collaboration with users/customers;

• Establishing and sustaining trust and credibility through a program of shared learning and joint problem-solving;

• Understanding the societal context for climate risk management and using a problem-focused approach to the development of products and services;

• Addressing information needs along a continuum of timescales from extreme events to long-term change; and

• Embedding education, outreach and communications activities as critical program elements in effective climate services.

By way of examples, the author will reference lessons learned from: early Pacific Island climate forecast applications and climate assessment activities; the implementation of the Pacific Climate Information System (PaCIS) as a regional climate service prototype; supporting coastal hazards risk management issues through the Pacific Region Integrated Climatology Information Products (PRICIP) program; and emerging plans for enhanced climate services activities at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center.

To help set the stage for the group discussion to follow, the author will close with some thoughts about the challenges and opportunities associated with effective and meaningful engagement of partners and users as we move into an era of enhanced climate information needs and services.