Climate change really refers to any change in environmental conditions over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.
These changes affect every sector of the global economy and are carefully monitored within the US economy.

Climate information services are relevant for everything from design standards for homes and commercial buildings, to infrastructure and logistics, to business structuring and financing. Whether it is a construction company seeking to bid a job, an energy company planning summer electrical demand, or a municipality estimating the height of a proposed sea wall, accurate environmental information is essential to make the right decisions. Climate data are essential inputs for government officials responsible for the management of public finances, assets, such as electricity grids, government buildings and roads, and services such as emergency response and assistance. In the private sector, decision-making on input sourcing, facility siting, insurance needs, employee health and much more can be strengthened by gaining a better understanding of future climate. Just-in-time inventory logistics can easily be derailed by unexpected extreme events.

Companies in all fields need to prepare for climate change and will benefit from tailored climate information services. Decision-makers from both private and public sectors typically want climate data that cover their local area to as fine a scale as possible in formats that they can easily understand to incorporate into existing decision-making frameworks.

In most cases, there is a gap between what is currently available and what they need.

Much of the currently available climate information is raw scientific data, which is not user-friendly. Those data are also not in the places or at the resolution needed for decision making. It needs to be translated into lay terminology and delivered in a way that end users can understand and apply.

Climate Information Services are services that transform and translate climate data into information that in turn can be used to make decisions regarding the environment, society, or the economy at scales from an individual home or small business to a national or even international stage. They provide decisional value data to companies for decision making purposes, with more and more businesses recognizing the need to gather these data.