The Global Observing System For Climate: Implementation Needs

This plan was published in 2016 and describes the proposed implementation of a global observing system for climate, building on current actions and meeting the needs of the UNFCC, adaptation planning and climate science. It sets out a way forward for scientific and technological innovations for the Earth observation programmes of space agencies and for the national implementation of climate observing systems and networks.

A system for global climate observations comprises a combination and integration of global, regional and national observing systems delivering climate data and products.

The new Implementation Plan guides the development of such a system and sets out what is needed to meet increasing and more diverse needs for data and information, including for improved management of the impacts and consequences of climate variability and current and future climate change.

English version: GCOS-200

French version: SMOC-200

Updated version of the Space Agency Response to GCOS Implementation Plan (version 2.21): WGClimate IP Response

Part I of this Implementation Plan describes the new and wider considerations of climate observations and their connections with adaptation and mitigation issues, including the relationship of ECVs to the three climate cycles of water, carbon and energy, to the Rio Conventions, other biodiversity-related conventions, Agenda 2030 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction 2015–2030.

Part II provides the details for the observing systems, from the general requirements for climate observations to individual actions for each ECV.