South Africa's National Framework for Climate Services - THU Team Europe Climate Action Coffee: Climate Adaptation - Climate Services
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South Africa’s National Framework for Climate Services
THU Team Europe Climate Action Coffee: Climate Adaptation - Climate
Services
15 April 2021
Tlou Ramaru
Setting the Scene • South Africa experiences a wide range of weather and climate related impacts (drought, severe storms, flooding, heat waves, etc) that are projected to worsen with climate change. These impacts pose risks to human lives, the natural environment, infrastructure, and the economy. • In order to prepare for these impacts, it is critical that sound information and data on climate change is available and that predictions and forecasts are disseminated so that informed and appropriate responses and decisions can be made. • It is critical that climate services are put in place to provide those sectors, areas, businesses and communities that are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, with accurate and timely information in order to reduce their risk and plan suitable responses. Furthermore, climate information should be accessible for all genders and social groups, and barriers to accessing information (e.g. literacy and access to technologies) should be considered for different groups. • Climate services in South Africa is provided by government department, government research institutions, universities, research institutes, representative organisation, private institutions and individuals.
Climate Services Landscape in South Africa- Providers
Climate Services Landscape in South Africa- Users
Research Institutions
Academic Institutions
These institutions need climate services to These institutions, are mainly government
General Public conduct research, which can be climate owned research institutions, who require Government
The general public can use climate related or not, in some cases, climate data climate services in the form of data and Government institutions need climate
services to better prepare for can be combined with non-climate data to information, and use this to conduct research, information and products to adapt and
extreme weather and climate events. produce required outputs.. which can be climate related or not. mitigate climate change impact.
Media
Media, require climate services from
three providers, to be able to
NGOs
Private Sector broadcast or publish climate NGOs can use the information to assist
information and products to the
In order to be climate resilience, the their beneficiaries in preparing for
broader user communities within
private sector, must protect their climate risks and disaster. They can also
their area of reach.
investment by ensuring that the risk of provide capacity building, and
climate change is understood, and its interpretation of climate information and
impact on the business can be managed.. products.
National Framework for Climate Services
NFCS-SA vision:
To enable society to better manage the risks and opportunities arising from climate variability and change, especially for
those who are most vulnerable to climate related hazards.
NFCS-SA Mission:
• Mainstream and enhance climate observations and monitoring information and transform it into sector -specific
products and applications;
• Developing users’ capacity to manage risks of climate variability and change at all levels;
NFCS-SA
• To be user driven, and address the entire value chain for the production, processing and application;
• Will strengthen local, regional and global collaborative.
NFCS-SA Goals:
In line with the GFCS, the NFCS-SA has the following overarching goals, namely:
• developing and incorporating science-based climate information and prediction into planning, policy and practice;
• Reducing the vulnerability of society to climate related hazards through better provision of climate information;
• Advancing the key national development goals through better provision of climate information;
• Mainstreaming the use of climate information in decision making;
• Strengthening the engagement of providers and users of climate services;
• Maximising the utility of existing climate service infrastructure.
National Framework for Climate Services
The NFCS was designed to be user driven, and to address the entire value chain for the
production and application of climate services. The focus of the NFCS-SA is on the following
climate sensitive sectors:
Disaster Risk Water Resource Agriculture and Human
Reduction Health
Management Food Security Settlements
Oceans and
Infrastructure Transport Biodiversity Energy
Coasts
Pillars of NFCS User Interface: It provides a structured means for users, climate researchers and climate data and information providers to interact at all levels. It also promotes effective decision making with respect to climate considerations by making sure that the right information, at the right time and in the right amount, is delivered, understood, and used. Observations and Monitoring: The aim of this pillar is to ensure that climate observations and other data necessary to meet the needs of end users are collected, managed and disseminated and are supported by relevant metadata. Climate Services Information System: It is the principal mechanism through which information about climate is collected, stored and processed to generate products and services that inform decision-making. Research, Modelling and Prediction: Fosters research towards continually improving the scientific quality of climate information, providing an evidence base for determining the impacts of climate change and variability and for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of using climate information. Capacity Development: Focuses on addressing the requirements identified in the other pillars as well as, more broadly, the basic requirements for enabling any Framework-related activities to occur sustainably.
Operational Structure for the Implementation of NFCS
Minister of Environmental Minister of Science and
Affairs Technology
NFCS-Advisory Policy Committee
(DEA, DST, SAWS, NDMC, ARC, DWS, WRC,
South African Weather Service SAMRC, DHS)
(CEO) (Provide strategic direction to implementation of
the NFCS, and assist with data input from their
institutions and users)
-May recommend special committees
South African Weather Service
(Climate Services Programme)
(provide daily operation of the
provision of climate services and
coordination of various players) UIP CIS O&M RMP
CD
Key NFCS Products/ Services Developed
• Annual Climate • Frequency analysis of • WeatherSMART • State of the Climate Reports
Summary/Statement rainfall • WeatherSA
• Annual WMO Extreme • Advanced multi-model • Lightning Products- • Assessments of Historical
Indices probabilistic seasonal Lightning Threat Index Climate Variability and
predictions of rainfall (LTI) & Lightning Longer Term Trends
Climatology
• Heat Stress Index for • Climate Change • Monthly climate • Monthly Updates of Rainfall
Livestock projections summaries Patterns
• Climate Projections for • minimum & maximum • Severe Weather • Summary of drought
Climate Change Reference temperatures Forecasting conditions
Atlas Demonstration (SWFDP)
• Impact Based Aviation • Potential future climate • Drought Monitoring • Information on Historically
Product (AVRDP) analysis for Energy Sector information Extreme Weather Events
• Catchment Rainfall Spatial • indicators of future • Forecasts of New • Rainfall products -
Variability Indicator Suite climate related Malaria Areas and Convection Rain Rate (CRR),
(CRSVIS) vulnerability & the Provision of Historical Satellite Application Facility
potential impact Data of Malaria Areas (SAF), Hydro Estimator
(HE),Thunderstorm (RDT)
• Impact Based Early • Aeronautical • Seasonal Outlooks • Severe Weather Warnings
Warning System Climatological Summary
Implementation of NFCS CURRENT FUNCTIONALITY
CLIMATE SERVICES PORTAL • A list of SAWS products and services;
• An atlas of climate and weather-related data;
• Static graphs and maps provided by SAWS;
• A facility to search SAEON’s Open Data Platform and
various related data collections from the CSIR,
University of Cape Town, SANBI and others.
• Climate change reports from SAWS and WMO,
provincial climate change plans, Let’s Respond
Toolkit resources, sector reports where available.
• Integration of the National Disaster Management
Centre’s Disaster Atlas
Link
https://ccis.environment.gov.za/#/climate-
servicesNFCS Products - Key Dissemination Platforms
SAWS Website Hard Copy Social Media
TV & Radio Research Cellphone Application (iStore, Google
Store)
Telephonic/Email Interaction- Attendance of Workshops, National Climate Change Information
forums and meetings SystemYou can also read
