Weather and climate risks occur on a range of timescales, from severe weather to extreme seasons to centennial changes, all of which require a response. Over the coming century society will need to mitigate and adapt to these risks, taking into account additional challenges posed by rising population levels, increasing urbanisation and associated increases in demand for water, food and energy.
Recent advances in weather and climate forecasting capability have shown remarkable skill in providing valuable advice at each of these timescales. They have also demonstrated substantial benefits of working in a seamless manner across these different timescales. These advances mean that Weather and Climate Science is now ready to play a central role in helping us plan for a safe and sustainable future.
The predictive power of our models enables us ‘to see into the future’, so that we can be better prepared to deal with the risks we face, including those from human interference with the climate system. As we look to the future and a warming world, some of the greatest impacts of climate change on society will be felt through changes in the weather, and the impact of these changes on human systems such as agriculture, transport and energy. Understanding the risks posed by climate change will require an increasingly interdisciplinary approach, combining expertise about diverse and complex systems in order to plan and assess societal responses.