Requirements: There have been several forums, panels, seminars held by NOAA over the past 2-3 to identify climate service requirements. NOAA should review these as the starting point in addressing requirements. Two examples of these meetings include:

1) NOAA Strategic Planning Forum for Stakeholders held in Crystal City, VA in May 2007. The planning forum included a break-out group to discuss climate service requirements. Representatives from many private sectors, such as energy, transportation, and insurance, presented their requirements for higher resolution climate products and services. The discussion also emphasized the need for an increase in the budget for climate products and services.

2) NCDC-sponsored Users Seminar held in Asheville, NC in November, 2008. The seminar was similar in results of the stakeholders meeting 18 months earlier, with representatives from the private sector detailing their requirements for improved, higher-resolution products and services.

Identification of Requirements and Application of Services and Products. As previous envisioned in the NCS charter, these functions would best be performed at the regional, state, and local levels. This would insure improved support to decision making and tailoring of the products and services to the user.

Development and Acquisition of Services and Products. The NCS should develop and acquire the improved, higher-resolution products and services at the national level, to insure efficiency, minimize duplication and leverage existing climate-related resources.

Identification of Requirements and Application of Services and Products is key for success.