Work

Evaluating weather and climate information services for heat and drought adaptation in Southeast Europe: gaps, opportunities and design principles

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Although many Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) are available in Southeast Europe (SEE), their contribution to enhancing long-term climate resilience remains unclear. This study evaluates the role of WCIS in supporting climate change adaptation in SEE to extreme heat and drought events, and identifies key gaps. The performance of WCIS was investigated using a mixed-methods approach that combines bibliometric and market analysis, surveys, and semi-structured interviews. The results highlight a key challenge in WCIS user engagement, stemming from gaps in their design and communication. Many services in SEE contain top-down approaches with limited user involvement and inadequate educational support. Strengthening community involvement and promoting transparency in information dissemination are therefore crucial. This can be complemented by tailoring WCIS to specific sectors, such as agriculture, public health, or water management, ensuring that they meet the local information needs of their respective audiences. Lastly, technical challenges remains regarding the reliability, trustworthiness and performance of WCIS with regards to the climate extremes associated with heat and drought events. This study concludes with five key recommendations for WCIS in SEE: 1) improve cross-scales community engagements, 2) ensure transparent information delivery, 3) address sector-specific needs, 4) improve user-friendliness, and 5) increase reliability and trust.

Source: Climate Services

DOI: 10.1016/j.cliser.2025.100626