Although the NCS should assume the role of the authoritative voice on climate information for the public and specific decision makers, it should work with an strengthen existing external climate service organizations and develop new ones as necessary, based on sectoral and regional needs. I am referring, for example, to NOAA external partnerships such as the RISA networks and the IRI or to other existing public providers such as state climatologists. NOAA should also help the private (market) sector providers by opening up access to data, model predictions, and other climate information. This can be done in a model similar to the existing NOAA interaction with the private weather prediction industry. While NOAA cannot have responsibility for the added value products provided by these private sector organizations, it should allow them to use the basic climate information in the same way that it currently provides access to climate observations. Examples are the open access to data collected from the equatorial Pacific El Nino network or output from NOAA models used to produce numerical El Nino forecasts. NOAA should consider developing routine communication with such private-sector providers to insure correct interpretation and use of data and prediction products. Such communication can be done using web material (e.g., the climate service web portal) or by holding seminars and conferences.

Creating NOAA related external climate service network and of developing good practices for interacting with the private sector is important because NOAA cannot address all the needs of the market in climate services alone, in the same way that it cannot do this in the weather area. It is my impression that NOAA is already considering using and expanding its RISA network and this should be encouraged by NAPA. I am not sure about plans for engaging the private climate industry but it is my impression that such action cannot be avoided if the demand for climate service increases as the need for more aggressive adaptation and mitigation effort becomes necessary.