Energy sustainability through climate services

Abstract

The energy sector has been recognized as a priority area for the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), being an international initiative to provide weather and climate services to improve the world´s economy and welfare. Within this framework, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which is the United Nations Agency in charge of the implementation of a model to interact with the Energy Stakeholders, providing them tangible solutions that increase their sustainability and resilience, this last as a result of the GFCS Energy Exemplar. One of the pillars of the project is the identification and adaptation to the needs of the key decision-makers, as the best way to positively impact their planning processes and operations. For implementing tailor-made climate services, a business plan has been developed, answering to the new roles that international organizations need to play in the evolving and challenging economies, having a closer and more proactive perspective. Secondly, and with the aim of proving the concept of the project, Colombia has been selected as a pilot country. A study case has been developed to prospect the project in the energy sector within the country. A third research topic includes the elaboration of a Climate and Weather services for the Energy Sector Handbook document, that can act as a support tool for the WMO network to fully understand and relate with the benefiters of the project (Energy Stakeholders). All the research has been developed under a business oriented perspective, as the best approach to relate with the energy stakeholders and especially with the private sector. As one of the results of the research, four different methodologies (licensing, retailing, membership and partnership model) have been identified as the possible paths to implement the GFCS Energy exemplar and pursue its objectives.