On August 22, 2024, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) supported the release of the 34th annual State of the Climate report. “The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) State of the Climate report is the product of an international effort to more fully understand global climate conditions in 2023,” said NCEI Director Derek Arndt. The report is important to NCEI’s Industry Proving Grounds (IPG), which works within several sectors across the US economy that rely on accurate climate data.
The State of the Climate report is a vital tool for the architecture/engineering, retail, and re/insurance sectors since it provides the most comprehensive update on Earth’s climate indicators, notable weather events, and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments. For example, the report describes a significant transition from La Niña to a strong El Niño, which contributed to unprecedented climate conditions globally. In 2023, greenhouse gas concentrations, global temperature across land and oceans, global sea level, and ocean heat reached record highs. Understanding these climate indicators allows IPG sectors to proactively assess and manage these risks, implement sustainable solutions, make climate-smart decisions, and build climate resilience through long-term planning.
The IPG enables NCEI and the industries it collaborates with to apply the findings of reports such as State of the Climate to their joint efforts. The findings, for example, can help end-users:
Apply climate risk assessments to project planning and adopt technologies and practices for “green” buildings and infrastructure.
Analyze potential supply chain disruptions, monitor consumer preference trends, and change the physical layouts of stores so that products that consumers need are easier to find.
Integrate climate data to improve catastrophe models, adjust insurance policy packages, or offer specialized coverage for customers in high-risk flood or wildfire zones.