Next steps

The demonstrated value of the consultations and user engagements that have occurred in the development of UKCP09 suggests that their continuation in some form beyond launch is required. In particular, a post-launch Users’ Panel (with supplementary users’ consultations) would provide informed users’ views and guidance on future development of UKCP09 essential to realising the potential benefits. Among the immediate requirements are post-launch review and improvements to the UKCP09 User Interface and User Guidance. In the latter, users will need to be involved in developing case studies based on their experience of using the UKCP09 outputs that can be shared with others. Users will also be encouraged to submit queries based on questions raised as a result of accessing, interpreting and using UKCP09, which will help develop a UKCP09 knowledge-base. Both of these will be instrumental in improving the User Guidance. 

As in the case of UKCIP02 (with UKCIP02 extras), the participation of users will be critical in identifying the need for and appropriateness of updates, new tools and guidance, which will likely be provided as UKCP09 extras. Finally, users should also play a major role in determining the need for and nature of subsequent generations of climate scenarios for the UK.

To help inform this process, and increase the knowledge and use of UKCP09, Defra and UKCIP prepared a comprehensive programme of events post launch which included national sector specific events, regional workshops, in depth training sessions and online e-learning modules. The dissemination programme Projections in Practice followed the launch of the Projections and provided information to existing users of UKCIP02 and raised awareness more widely, to branch out from the traditional users to engage harder to reach groups.

Events were organised for specific sectors, regions and for specific organisations (for example key policy-makers and senior managers in Whitehall departments and devolved administrations). Defra undert pilot projects with key Whitehall departments to test the embedding of UKCP09 in policy-making, with lessons being fed back to UKCIP.

To express an interest in being involved in post-launch activities, please click here