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Stakeholder Engagement to Better Understand Climate Information Needs

Nancy Colleton

Nancy Colleton
President
Institute for Global Enivironmental Strategies
Web

Background

A recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) indicates that the annual economic impact of routine weather on the U.S. economy could be as much as $485 billion. If such a strong linkage between routine weather changes and the economy exist, how can U.S. business and the economy as a whole, be better prepared for weather and climate changes that may take place in the future? How can NOAA provide improved information products for U.S. business, thus protecting and growing the economy? What are the opportunities for the U.S. private sector in developing and delivering these long-term forecasting products? This project will examine climate--or long-term forecasting--information needs to ensure business and economic security.

IGES-GRAPHIC

Work Plan

This project focuses on implementing the following tasks:

  • Examining mechanisms and models for private sector engagement through public-private partnerships;
  • Convening an executive roundtable of business, government, and non-governmental leaders to assess long-term forecasting needs; and
  • Convening a working group to further define the information needs of the plant sector, a follow up to the 2008 A Growing Interest workshop.

    • For the purposes of this initiative, the plant sector includes the diverse business sectors that rely on the health and well being of plants--landscape, architecture, horticulture, golf course design and maintenance, conservation, gardening, nursery management, arboreta, botanical gardens, and public land management.

    The results of this research will be captured in three reports, which will include the assessment of public-private partnerships, a summary of the executive roundtable with the findings, and an outline of next steps in delivering the long-term forecasting information critical to the plant sector.