About the CST
The Climate Services Toolkit (CST) provides a conduit for sharing data, software tools, guidance, and training resources for climate services development.
It aims at improving efficiency and raising the capacity of service providers by facilitating the production, communication and application of high-quality, reliable and consistent climate information products.
The toolkit facilitates climate services standards in support of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and provides training to help develop operational skills.
Climate Services Information System (CSIS)
The Climate Services Information System (CSIS) is the core operational pillar of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), designed for producing and delivering authoritative climate information and services through appropriate operational systems, practices, technical standards, authentication and communication.
The primary high priority functions of the CSIS include:
- Climate data rescue, management and mining
- Climate analysis and monitoring
- Climate prediction
- Climate projection
- User-targeted climate information
These functions include processes for data retrieval, analysis and assessment, re-analysis, diagnostics, interpretation, assessment, attribution, generation and verification of predictions, generation of projections, estimation of uncertainties and communication (including exchange/ dissemination of data and products) that will be carried out over a global-regional-national system of interlinked producers and providers.
The CST is one of key enabling mechanisms for the implementation of the CSIS, particularly at regional and national levels.
CST Introductory Video
Historical overview of the CST
- November 2022: Expert meeting on Advancing the CST
- April 2018: Commission for Climatology (CCl-17)
- May 2017: WMO Executive Council endorsed the outline of a consolidated action plan to further develop and deploy the CST through Decision 16 (EC-69)
- 2014: Annex to the GFCS Implementation Plan - Climate Services Information System component set path for CSIS implementation and enabling mechanisms
- December 2012: Meeting of the Commission for Climatology Expert Team on Climate Services Information System (ET-CSIS) defined the minimum CSIS elements at global, regional and national levels
- October 2011: Commission for Climatology Task Team on CLIPS Evolution identified existing tools
- April 2011: Workshop on Strategy for Implementation of Climate Services Information System (CSIS) defined top-level CSIS functions