Climate extremes and risks: links between climate science and decision-making
The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) envisions a future where actionable climate information is universally accessible, supporting decision makers in preparing for and responding to climate change. In this perspective, we advocate for enhancing links between climate science and decision-making through a better and more decision-relevant understanding of climate impacts. The proposed framework comprises three pillars: climate science, impact science, and decision-making, focusing on generating seamless climate information from sub-seasonal, seasonal, decadal to century timescales informed by observed climate events and their impacts. The link between climate science and decision-making has strengthened in recent years, partly owing to undeniable impacts arising from disastrous weather extremes. Enhancing decision-relevant understanding involves utilizing lessons from past extreme events and implementing impact-based early warning systems to improve resilience. Integrated risk assessment and management require a comprehensive approach that encompasses good knowledge about possible impacts, hazard identification, monitoring, and communication of risks while acknowledging uncertainties inherent in climate predictions and projections, but not letting the uncertainty lead to decision paralysis. The importance of data accessibility, especially in the Global South, underscores the need for better coordination and resource allocation. Strategic frameworks should aim to enhance impact-related and open-access climate services around the world. Continuous improvements in predictive modeling and observational data are critical, as is ensuring that climate science remains relevant to decision makers locally and globally. Ultimately, fostering stronger collaborations and dedicated investments to process and tailor climate data will enhance societal preparedness, enabling communities to navigate the complexities of a changing climate effectively.
Authors
- Marjolijn Haasnoot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9062-4698)
- Lisa V. Alexander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5635-2457)
- Shampa Shampa
- Jana Sillmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0219-5345)
- Kirsten L. Findell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1207-1637)
- Carlo Buontempo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1874-5380)
- Tannecia S. Stephenson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0146-673X)
- Christian L. E. Franzke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4111-1228)
- Monica Ainhorn Morrison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4228-8247)
- Alex C. Ruane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5582-9217)
- Markus G. Donat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0608-7288)
- Douglas Maraun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4076-0456)
- Daniela Jacob (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5249-4044)
- Tim Raupach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3336-7610)
- Bin Guan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4931-2016)
- Erich Markus Fischer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1931-6737)
- Leonard Borchert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3232-7409)
- Ed Hawkins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9477-3677)
- Lincoln Muniz Alves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8259-2262)
- Benjamin Poschlod (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0247-2514)
- Pablo Borges de Amorim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8051-2780)
- Narelle van der Wel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9664-7666)
- Roché Mahon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9621-7033)
- Xuebin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6551-6249)
- Zhuo Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4069-9501)
- Josipa Županić
Institutions
- NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (US)
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies (US)
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- World Meteorological Organization (CH)
- University of Graz (AT)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BD)
- NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (US)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- University of Victoria (CA)
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (ES)
- German Climate Computing Centre (DE)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (CA)
- Deltares (NL)
- Institute for Basic Science (KR)
- CICERO Center for International Climate Research (NO)
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science (GB)
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science (AU)
- Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (BB)
- NSF NCAR Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory (US)
- Climate Service Center
- World Climate Research Programme (CH)
- Pusan National University (KR)
- University of Reading (GB)
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (BR)
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Climate
- Published
- 2024-12-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1499765
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Climate variability and models
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.98
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Sight Research UK
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Universität Hamburg
- Institute for Basic Science
- Earth Sciences Division
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- Natural Environment Research Council