New network for climate services

Climate services are scientifically based information about the past, present and future climate and its consequences. They are the basis for decisions on how to deal with the effects of climate change. Climate services are also a prerequisite for taking climate change into account already in the planning and implementation of measures and thus saving costs in the long term.

The NCCS of the Confederation, based at MeteoSwiss, coordinates the development and dissemination of Climate Services and makes them available in an understandable form. As an interface between science and practice, it promotes dialogue and the joint and interdisciplinary development of climate services. In doing so, the network ensures that these are geared to the needs of users.

Focus topics

The NCCS develops climate services on several key topics. For example, the current variability of the climate in Switzerland and possible future changes are to be highlighted. Furthermore, it will be investigated how climate change affects, for example, water resources, natural hazards such as floods or landslides, forest health, the distribution of tree species or of pests in agriculture. Last but not least, illustrative scenarios for extreme weather events are intended to further improve event management and also population protection, in addition to necessary preventive measures.

Promote dialog

All practical and regularly updated information and basics on climate will be available in one place within the NCCS. The website www.nccs.ch will be expanded into a web platform for authorities, decision-makers from politics and business, associations and society. In addition, networking events will be held to promote exchange and identify potential research gaps. This dialogue forms the basis for the elaboration and further development of the best possible climate services. If required, the NCCS organizes interdisciplinary workshops for individual sectors such as agriculture or on specific topics such as climate scenarios.

The NCCS - Briefly explained

Within the framework of the Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change in Switzerland adopted by the Federal Council, the NCCS takes on the task of strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation in the development of data and information, thereby improving the common, practical foundations. With the NCCS, the Confederation is following the recommendation from the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), which was launched by the World Meteorological Organization WMO at the third World Climate Conference in Geneva in 2009.

The Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, the Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG, the Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP, ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL are involved in the NCCS. The office is located at MeteoSwiss in Zurich.

In addition to the federal offices and research institutions mentioned above, Agroscope, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and the University of Bern are currently involved. The aim is to win further institutions for collaboration.

These and other questions are the focus of the NCCS:

• Will there be more rain and therefore bigger floods? What does this mean for my community?
• Will pests in fruit, wine and arable farming cause more losses in the future? What does this mean for crop protection?
• How much will the heat waves increase? What does this mean for the population?
• Which tree species should we promote today? Which ones provide good timber yield and habitat for animals and plants despite higher temperatures and greater drought?
• How will water resources change? What does this mean for society?