The economic case for climate information services

If African nations are to avoid losses from climate shocks and stresses, or reap the potential benefits from changing climatic patterns, governments need accurate, timely and accessible climate information services. A new framework developed by the African Climate Policy Centre will enable governments to weigh up the economic and social benefits of climate information services against the costs of investment to improve generation and use of these services.

KEY POINTS

• Across Africa, insufficient investment in climate information services means these services are often not fit for purpose.
• But before investing in climate information services, policymakers need to know the likely economic returns of their investment.
• ACPC has developed a Socio-economic Benefits framework that assesses the economic and social benefits of climate information services compared to investment costs.
• Following development of the framework, the next stage will be customisation for specific sectors starting with agriculture and disaster risk reduction