Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Climateurope2 (Supporting and standardizing climate services in Europe and beyond)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-03-01 bis 2025-08-31
limate information is vital for achieving a green recovery, climate neutrality, and resilience in Europe. Yet, this information must be delivered in ways that decision-makers can trust, understand, and use. Climate services (the tailored provision of climate information for decision-making) play a key role in this process. The demand for climate services has grown rapidly, but so too have challenges. The field is diverse and fragmented, with many actors, inconsistent standards, and limited quality assurance. This makes it difficult for users to compare services or trust their reliability. Building on the legacy of the earlier EU project Climateurope, Climateurope2 works to support the standardisation of climate services so they are credible, relevant, and equitable. The project develops a framework for equitable standardisation, identifying criteria for quality assurance and certification, and defining when technical, procedural, or performance standards are most appropriate. It also contributes to the work of CEN/CENELEC Technical Committee 467, which is developing the first European climate services standard. At the same time, Climateurope2 strengthens Europe’s community of practice, connecting scientists, policymakers, businesses, and civil society through events such as Festivals, online Webstivals, art–science collaborations, and Travelling Climate Action Roadshows. The interactive Climateurope2 Platform supports this network by providing resources, discussion spaces, and a shared glossary. Social sciences and humanities play a central role, ensuring that standardisation considers ethical, social, and governance aspects and that services are equitable and useful in real-world decisions. By the project’s end, Climateurope2 will deliver recommendations and good practices to guide standardisation and quality assurance, helping Europe better prepare for climate challenges.
Climateurope2 has advanced a shared framework to guide the standardisation, quality assurance, and certification of climate services. Recognising that services span scientific, technical, and social dimensions, the project defined four components: the decision context, the actor ecosystem, the integration of multiple knowledge systems, and the mechanisms for delivery and evaluation. An equitable standardisation framework and a decision tree now help identify governance gaps and assess what aspects of climate services can be standardised. These tools highlight that not all elements should be formalised and that equity and context matter for effective outcomes. A review of existing standards and a co-created glossary have provided a shared foundation for collaboration. Scientific and technical analyses defined 25 quality criteria and guiding principles for high-quality climate services. Market mapping revealed a fragmented ecosystem still dependent on public funding, underscoring the need for stronger benchmarks and coordination. Research on value and benefits clarified how climate services deliver both monetary and non-monetary gains such as resilience and learning, while work on business models identified strategies balancing commercial viability with public-good objectives. Interdisciplinary research has deepened understanding of how governance, trust, and legitimacy affect climate services. Surveys, ethnographic studies, and policy analyses are informing a Roadmap for Policy Support, linking standardisation with effective climate action. Community engagement has expanded dramatically: the network now includes nearly 500 members, connected through major events and creative outreach that blend science and culture. The Climateurope2 Platform serves as a lasting hub for co-creation, hosting deliverables, training materials, and discussion tools. The consortium has also established formal ties with CEN/CENELEC and contributed to drafting the first European standard for climate services, ensuring scientific input directly supports policy and market innovation.
Climateurope2 is shaping how climate services are governed and assured for quality. It provides the first European framework for their standardisation and has helped trigger a European Commission request to CEN/CENELEC to develop a standard. The project’s work informs policy, supports technical harmonisation, and strengthens the European market through a community that connects researchers, authorities, private providers, and users. The Climateurope2 Platform offers an open, interactive environment where users can access guidelines, standards, and training, fostering transparency and participation. Looking ahead, the project will finalise its recommendations, support a CEN Workshop Agreement on co-production guidelines, and expand collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization and global partners.