C3S NCP Forum in Budapest: National networks put climate data into practice

Ahead of the 9th General Assembly of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), national representatives met on 3 June 2026 in Budapest for the fifth National Collaboration Programme (NCP) Forum. The event focused on how climate information can be deployed more effectively in practical applications.

The forum served as a working platform for experts from public authorities, research, the service sector and user communities. It collected feedback for C3S, consolidated user needs and helped set priorities for future NCP activities. At the same time, it deepened networks and identified concrete entry points for follow-up projects.

Key themes included the launch of new NCP projects and the adaptation of existing C3S offerings to national requirements. Topics raised included more localized climate projections, improved indicators for extreme events, sector-specific datasets for energy, water and agriculture, and capacity-building measures. Poster contributions presented alongside the General Assembly illustrated the range of work — from applied analyses to communication formats that make complex information more accessible.

The poster sessions functioned as an open workshop: participants from different countries compared experiences in data processing, visualization and provision of climate-relevant variables. These exchanges generated impulses for technical improvements as well as proposals for training offers and targeted outreach.

For authorities, planning offices and companies, robust reference data, long-term time series and derived indicators form the basis for risk assessment and preparation of adaptation measures. NCPs translate this foundation into context-specific products — for example regional maps, sector-specific dashboards or standardized reporting formats for decision-making processes.

A central conclusion was that climate information has the greatest impact when users are involved early. Co-production increases relevance and acceptance. NCPs act as intermediaries between C3S and national user groups: they identify questions, test prototypes and feed feedback into further development.

Beyond technical solutions, communication channels and skills development moved into focus. Several countries reported needs for training of public-sector staff, tailored educational materials and clear visualizations to communicate uncertainties transparently. Public-facing formats are also intended to reach new target groups — from small and medium-sized enterprises to local administrations and non-governmental organizations.

Against the backdrop of more frequent and intense extreme events, demand is growing for detailed, locally applicable data. National networks help to localize models, combine data sources and derive concrete recommendations for action. That increases the usefulness of data for risk analyses, infrastructure planning and disaster preparedness.

The 5th NCP Forum confirmed the role of national collaboration programmes as a hinge between the European climate service and on-the-ground application. The topics discussed and projects launched set the framework for the next NCP phase: connecting technical improvements with targeted outreach, systematically integrating user feedback and capturing needs across different sectors. As a result, climate data can be integrated more reliably into political and operational decisions. For decision-makers this means: better access to appropriate datasets, support in dealing with uncertainties and concrete tools to reduce climate risks.