The Northern Australia Climate Program (NACP) is a fully integrated research, development and extension (RDandE) program operating across extensive pastoral regions of northern Australia. The NACP aims to improve existing climate models and forecast tools, develop new products to meet user needs and build the capacity of rangeland producers to manage the challenges posed by droughts (or failed wet seasons) and climate variability.

Climate information gaps identified through earlier surveys of graziers and communities in rural and remote Australia informed the design of the research component of the NACP, which aims to address the low and variable accuracy of seasonal climate forecasts in many regions, the need for proof of value of forecasts and relevance of existing forecast systems and technologies, and perceived lack of effective support from climate experts for the use of climate resources and technologies in agricultural decision making. The development and extension components of the program aim to improve climate literacy and the use of climate information. Building on the research program, they deliver a climate service that provides local extension and technical support, with a focus on building trust in climate information through locally sourced, industry connected NACP trained and supported extension advisers called Climate Mates. Two-way information flow between decision makers and researchers, facilitated by the Climate Mates, ensures that forecasts and decision- and discussion-support tools developed through the program are regionally relevant and targeted to the needs of end users.

Monitoring and evaluation of the program indicates that this approach is contributing to positive outcomes in terms of awareness and knowledge of climate forecasting and products, and their adoption and use in decision making (i.e. practice change). In the longer term, the Climate Mates have potential for enduring impact beyond the program, leaving a knowledgeable and trusted climate resource across regional northern Australia.

澳大利亚北部气候计划 (NACP) 是一项完全整合的研究、开发和推广 (RDandE) 计划，在澳大利亚北部广阔的牧区开展活动。NACP 旨在改进现有的气候模型和预报工具，开发新产品以满足用户需求，并建立牧场生产者应对干旱（或未雨季）和气候变率带来的挑战的能力。

通过早期对澳大利亚农村和偏远地区的牧民和社区的调查确定的气候信息差距为 NACP 研究部分的设计提供了信息，该部分旨在解决许多地区季节性气候预测的低精度和可变精度问题，需要价值证明现有预报系统和技术的预测和相关性，以及认为气候专家在农业决策中使用气候资源和技术方面缺乏有效支持。该计划的开发和推广部分旨在提高气候素养和气候信息的使用。在研究计划的基础上，他们提供气候服务，提供当地推广和技术支持，重点是通过当地采购的气候信息建立信任，与行业相关的 NACP 培训和支持的推广顾问称为气候伙伴。在气候伙伴的推动下，决策者和研究人员之间的双向信息流确保通过该计划开发的预测以及决策和讨论支持工具具有区域相关性，并针对最终用户的需求。

对该计划的监测和评估表明，该方法在气候预报和产品的意识和知识以及它们在决策制定（即实践变革）中的采用和使用方面有助于取得积极成果。从长远来看，气候伙伴有可能在计划之外产生持久影响，在澳大利亚北部地区留下知识渊博且值得信赖的气候资源。