ClimSA'24 Forum

ClimSA'24 Forum

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Improving Climate Services for Sustainable Adaptation Actions: Engagement with End-Users and Policymakers

Overview

The 2024 ClimSA Forum was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from June 24 to June 27, 2024. The event was organized under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-ACP Climate Services and related Applications Programme (ClimSA). The Forum has been a collaborative effort involving the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Government of Jamaica, the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), the African Union Commission (AUC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the European Commission, and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).

Theme

"Improving Climate Services for Sustainable Adaptation Actions: Engagement with End-Users and Policymakers"

The Forum aimed to enhance climate services to support sustainable adaptation actions, focusing on engagement with end-users and policymakers. It aligned with the strategies of OACPS and its regional organizations, the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), and aimed to contribute to the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Objectives

The main objective of the Forum was to learn from users’ feedback to improve the utility and benefits of climate service applications, thereby enhancing regional resilience in OACPS countries vulnerable to climate change. Specific objectives included the following.

  1. Reviewing tools and products/services generated by Regional Climate Centres (RCCs).
  2. Assessing users' adaptation measures derived from climate services.
  3. Analyzing feedback on the usefulness of climate services.
  4. Exchanging best practices and lessons learned across regions.
  5. Showcasing successful climate services mainstreaming for priority sectors and promoting a science-policy interface under the ClimSA programme.

Expected Outcomes

  1. Tailored climate services aligned with science-based knowledge.
  2. Identification of best adaptive practices for climate services uptake.
  3. Improved application of climate services in climate-sensitive sectors.
  4. Establishment of new collaborations and partnerships for expertise exchange.
  5. Increased awareness and understanding of climate mainstreaming modalities among end-users and policymakers.

Forum Structure and Methodology

The Forum featured open and interactive sessions, including plenaries, parallel sessions, and virtual participation. Each day has focused on sub-themes to inform and guide discussions:

Day 1: Presentation of tools and products by RCCs, exploring their impact on transforming data into actionable information and knowledge.

Day 2: Users shared feedback and experiences on the uptake and applications of climate services, highlighting success stories and challenges in sectors such as agriculture, water management, renewable energy, health, and disaster risk reduction.

Day 3: Recommendations for improving climate services mainstreaming, focusing on lessons learned and benefits to inform policy and management systems. A high-level policy makers dialogue was held. 

Day 4: A field visit was organized by the host country to showcase practical applications of climate services.

Participation

The Forum invited participants from OACPS regions, including:

  • Implementing partners of the ClimSA Programme (OACPS, AUC, CIMH, etc.).
  • Technical and collaborative partners (WMO, EUMETSAT, etc.).
  • National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and their user communities.
  • Sectoral UIP representatives from agriculture, water, DRR, health, energy.
  • Donors and financing institutions (European Commission, GCF, World Bank, etc.).
  • UN agencies, international NGOs, private sector representatives, and local communities.

Contact Information

For inquiries and further information, please contact: