Thursday, December 17, 2020, 16:00
online only
Angela Michiko Hama, NCCS
Abstract:
In response to the Global Framework for Climate Services' (GFCS) call
for the establishment of national coordination mechanisms, Switzerland
founded its National Centre for Climate Services (NCCS) in late 2015.
The Centre is a concerted national effort comprised of nine Federal
Offices and Institutes as well as partners from academia committed to
operationalizing the Framework at national to subnational level and
creating synergies. Based on a federally agreed national adaptation
strategy and plan for action, the NCCS is organized in the sense of a
nationwide network and virtual centre.
The co-creation and dissemination of climate services is vital for effective climate mitigation, adaptation and societal transformation. To overcome fragmentation and strengthen capacities leading to increased resilience, the NCCS acts as a network agent and knowledge-broker and pursues three main goals: 1) bundle the existing climate services of the Swiss Confederation, 2) foster dialogue among stakeholder communities, and 3) co-produce new tailored solutions. Thus, the NCCS supports policymakers from the national to local level as well as the private sector and society at large in minimizing their risks, maximizing opportunities and optimizing costs. The goals are reflected in the Centre's strategy that revolves around nine activity fields, all of which recognizing the importance of promoting knowledge exchange.
Key players have been attracted, services and stakeholder requirements mapped, and priority themes accordingly defined and populated. Specific studies are either underway or have been completed, addressing, inter alia, questions on water resources, human and animal health, natural hazards and risk management, and the spread of pests and forest functions. Overarching climate services include the new generation of Swiss climate scenarios released in mid-November 2018. All priority themes are designed in a user-centered fashion; collaboratively developed communication tactics enhance their exploitation. Additionally, a NCCS Programme focusing on the cross-sectoral analysis of climate impacts and the development of respective decision-support tools is currently being conceptualized, with first calls anticipated for 2021.
Accomplishments include actionable results from the priority themes,
such as new insights into impact-based warning and climate-sensitive
disaster risk reduction. To gain further traction, a multi- tiered
network and communications strategy was designed and rolled out. The
network regularly carries out tailor-made outreach formats, such as the
annual Swiss-wide NCCS Forum as well as media activities. Moreover, the
NCCS web portal www.nccs.ch was launched, which aims to serve as a
one-stop-shop for the provision of climate services, best practice and
guidance. Tying these activities together, a targeted approach in
creating and strengthening the interfaces and dialogue between the main
stakeholders is ensured. This presentation will give an overview of the
NCCS and its first milestones as well as discuss its strategies,
activities and current challenges. Specific attention willl be given to
showcasing the new generation of Swiss climate scenarios.