Accelerating Innovation in Climate Services: The 3 E's for Climate Service Providers

Mark S. Brooks Member, AMS Committee on Climate Services; Member, American Association of State Climatologists; Member, Council for Entrepreneurial Development

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Climate services can help society manage climate-related risk and capitalize on favorable conditions by providing data analysis, data products, and scientific expertise. Meeting society's needs requires matching them with ongoing scientific research. Despite the best of intentions, some research never makes it into operational products or services. Likewise, some societal needs are never met and scientific capabilities never realized. The three E's of climate services—engagement, entrepreneurship, and evaluation—can help climate service providers bridge this research-to-operations “valley of death” and create valuable, innovative climate services for our nation. This essay aims to stimulate such progress in the climate services enterprise.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Mark S. Brooks, 2604 Beehnon Way, Raleigh, NC 27603, E-mail: mark@marksbrooks.com

Climate services can help society manage climate-related risk and capitalize on favorable conditions by providing data analysis, data products, and scientific expertise. Meeting society's needs requires matching them with ongoing scientific research. Despite the best of intentions, some research never makes it into operational products or services. Likewise, some societal needs are never met and scientific capabilities never realized. The three E's of climate services—engagement, entrepreneurship, and evaluation—can help climate service providers bridge this research-to-operations “valley of death” and create valuable, innovative climate services for our nation. This essay aims to stimulate such progress in the climate services enterprise.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Mark S. Brooks, 2604 Beehnon Way, Raleigh, NC 27603, E-mail: mark@marksbrooks.com
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