Importance of National Framework for Climate Services in India for better management of the risks of climate variability and change

Introductory Note

Climate variability and climate change are increasingly influencing our lives through more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, floods, droughts, and cyclones. As these risks grow, there is a greater need for reliable climate information that can support planning, preparedness, and informed decision-making across sectors ranging from agriculture and water resources to health, energy, and disaster management.

In October 2023, a significant stakeholder consultation workshop was organized in Lavasa, Pune, to discuss the establishment of a National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) in India. The initiative aligns with the World Meteorological Organization's Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), which seeks to strengthen the production, delivery, and use of climate information for societal benefit.

The article reproduced below discusses the importance of NFCS-India, the role of the India Meteorological Department and partner institutions, and the outcomes of the stakeholder consultations that laid the groundwork for a coordinated national approach to climate services. Although written in 2023, the subject has only become more relevant as India continues to enhance climate resilience and climate-informed decision-making across sectors.

This article was originally published in the Bulletin of the Indian Meteorological Society, Pune Chapter (December 2023). 

Background

The climate of India has a high degree of variability at various spatial and timescales. The frequency as well as intensity of extreme weather events in the country has increased in recent decades, largely attributable to climate change. All communities, especially the economically stressed and the most vulnerable, are struggling to cope with the growing risks due to enhanced extreme events. According to the recent sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as well as the report of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, on the assessment of climate change over the Indian region, it is indicated that the increased frequency and intensity of climate and hydrological extremes such as cyclones, heatwaves, droughts and, floods will be the new normal across India. The increased severe weather events will exacerbate the societal and environmental risks in the country.

Decision-makers in many climate-sensitive sectors, such as water, agriculture, fisheries, health, forestry, transport, tourism, energy, disaster risk management, and many, are increasingly concerned about growing adverse impacts due to climate risks. It is unequivocal that efforts in disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and climate adaptation measures are to be in place to manage/mitigate the risks associated with extreme weather events. In this regard, climate services play a critical role in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, helping societies prepare for climate related impacts, and promoting sustainable and resilient development.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has promoted an innovative platform called the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), to enable better management of the risks of climate variability and change and adaptation to climate change through the development and incorporation of science-based and actionable climate information. It is a global to local coordination mechanism essential to strengthen the production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services. The GFCS was established by the Heads of State and governments, ministers and heads of delegations, present at the World Climate Conference-3 (held in Geneva, 31 August–4 September 2009). The world leaders recognized a growing need for these services to enable societies to address the challenges associated with extreme climate events and take advantage of the available opportunities. Acting as one on climate knowledge, WMO, together with United Nations and other international organizations and WMO Members, established the GFCS. It was envisioned that improvements in climate services could only be realized if relevant institutions at global, regional and national levels work together to complement their efforts by sharing expertise and data in their respective areas of specializations and mandate to inform the development and delivery of high-quality user-oriented climate services. There are five overarching goals of GFCS:

a) Reducing the vulnerability of society to climate-related hazards through better provision of climate information and services

b)  Advancing the key global development goals through better provision of climate information and services

c)  Mainstreaming the use of climate information and services in decision-making

d)  Strengthening the engagement of providers and users of climate services

e)  Maximizing the utility of existing climate service infrastructure

Therefore, GFCS aims to enable society to better manage the risks and opportunities arising from climate variability and change, especially with a focus on those who are most vulnerable to such risks, by developing and incorporating science-based climate information and prediction into planning, policy and practice. The implementation of GFCS has five components (pillars): (i) Observations and Monitoring; (ii) Research, Modelling and Prediction; (iii) Climate Services Information System; (iv) User Interface Platform; and (v) Capacity Development.

Under the auspices of the GFCS, the concept of National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) has been developed to help all climate services stakeholders at the national level to join forces and work together with mutually agreed working arrangements to collectively pursue the common goal of achieving a climate-smart society. The NFCS is a multi-institutional mechanism to coordinate, facilitate and strengthen collaboration among the relevant national institutions and partners to use of science-based climate information, predictions and services. In view of the impact associated with the climate variability and change, it is important that the NFCS in India (NFCS-India) need to established and implemented.


Figure: Functional components (pillars) of GFCS (Source: https://gfcs.wmo.int/)

NFCS India: Role of India Meteorological Department

As per the GFCS guidelines, it is envisaged that the NFCS would be initiated and led by the concerned country’s National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS). Within the WMO context, the role of NMHS in India is played by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is under the MoES. India had played a leading role in developing and guiding the GFCS right from the outset. The IMD is playing a key role in organizing various activities of climate data, monitoring, forecasting and services with operationally sustained international collaboration and partnership. IMD routinely provides services to weather-sensitive sectors viz. agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, health, tourism, marine, offshore oil explorations, etc. as well as the general public. Over the years, specialized services have also been built for state-of-the-art monitoring, detection and early warning of extreme weather phenomena including tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, dust storms, heavy rains and snowfall events, cold and heat waves, etc. It is widely recognized that these meteorological services have significant socio-economic benefits. The demand for actionable information including skillful prediction of weather and climate at various temporal and spatial scales is increasing due to greater awareness of the possible impacts of global climate variability and change. Continuous improvement of climate services requires effective conversion of research and technological advances into improved operational products, services and effective means to develop communication and linkages with decision-makers and users. The NFCS gives us an effective platform to establish and sustain interlinkages with various organizations to implement better and effective weather and climate services for the maximum benefits of the society.

Initial efforts under the proposed NFCS for India are to collaborate with all those agencies to whom IMD is already providing climate services, with a special focus on the five initial priority areas adopted by the GFCS, namely (i) Disaster risk reduction, (ii) Agriculture and food security, (iii) Water resources, (iv) Public health, and (v) Energy. Though the NFCS is not yet formally established in India, it is encouraging to note that different agencies are already connected through ad-hoc arrangements to facilitate need-based information exchange to some extent. Building on the existing arrangements and pursuing a more comprehensive approach to mainstream full value chain climate services, the NFCS could be realized through the setting up of formal yet flexible arrangements and mechanisms, including high-level governance, for regular and sustained dialogue and collaboration.

Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

A Stakeholder Consultation Workshop for Establishing the National Framework for Climate Services in India (NFCS–India), was organized by IMD and co-hosted by Christ University at Lavasa, Pune, Maharashtra, during 5-6 October 2023. The participants in this event included a wide range of experts relevant to climate services in the country, such as representatives from various central ministries (including earth sciences, water resources, agriculture, health, energy, defence and space), officials from various state governments, research organizations, academic institutions, professional bodies, industries, non-governmental organizations, students, and the media.


Figure: Participants at the stakeholder consultation workshop held in Lavasa, Pune during 5-6 October 2023

Figure: Various events at the stakeholder consultation workshop held during 5-6 October 2023.

The workshop was comprised of presentations from both national and WMO experts, discussions, and breakout sessions focused on the development of well-coordinated climate services in the country. The workshop was graced by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES and Dr. M. Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD. The workshop was coordinated by the Office of the Climate Research and Services, IMD, Pune. At the end of the workshop, the participants agreed on a roadmap ahead to ensure a successful establishment and implementation of NFCS-India in a sustainable manner, considering the needs and capacities of all the relevant stakeholders.

Reference

Hosalikar, K.S., Ratna, S.B., Chattopadhyay, R., Sreejith, O.P., and Kolli, R.K. (2023). Importance of National Framework for Climate Services in India for Better Management of the Risks of Climate Variability and Change. Bulletin of the Indian Meteorological Society, Pune Chapter, December 2023.

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