In a Nature comment released today (Tuesday 26th August 2025), a number of prominent scientists in the CMIP community are urging a shift from the current five-to-seven-year update cycle of forcings data to annual releases. This change aims to better align climate model simulations with the rapidly intensifying pace of global warming.
Led by Vaishali Naik (NOAA/GFDL) and her CMIP Forcings Task Team co-leads (Paul Durack (LLNL/PCMDI) and Zebedee Nicholls (Climate Resource/IIASA), CMIP Panel Co-chairs (John Dunne(NOAA/GFDL) and Helene Hewitt (UK Met Office), and representatives from Copernicus Climate Change Service (Carlo Buontempo) and the European Space Agency (Claire MacIntosh), the article highlights the increasing need to understand and explain our changing climate in near real time. Building on the work of the CMIP Forcings Task Team and outcomes of the Pathway to regular and sustained delivery of climate forcing datasets workshop, five key areas for actions are identified to facilitate delivery of annual update of the CMIP Earth System forcing data sets that will help to address this demand from the global community:
- Recognise the need for speed,
- Secure, reliable observations,
- Balance research and applications,
- Build on existing infrastructure,
- Create a well-managed structure.
As outlined in the article, the CMIP Forcings Task Team has established a template for delivery with the CMIP7 historical forcing data sets now available and scenario forcing data sets expected before the end of 2025. Following this, the Task Team will develop a set of recommendations on how to move to a more regular delivery mode, while also addressing outstanding questions in forcings science including addressing uncertainty.
