The “Second Report on the Adequacy of the Global Observing Systems for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC” (Second Adequacy Report), was prepared by the Global Climate Observing System for the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) prior to its 18th session in June 2003. This Report, available on the GCOS homepage: www.wmo.ch/web/gcos, provides a comprehensive perspective of actions to enable the needs of the UNFCCC for climate data to be met.

The major conclusions from the executive summary of the Second Adequacy Report fall into 4 areas needing attention by nations and international organization, including:

1. Data standards and data access 2. Sustained availability of integrated products 3. Enabling the developing countries to sustain key measurements 4. Fuller development of observing networks in each of the atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial domains

Subsequent to the report, GCOS is preparing a detailed plan for the specific actions required to implement the major conclusions and recommendations arising from the Report, especially those actions, which have a large benefit in relation to cost and a direct path to achieving effective implementation. The paper will outline the implementing actions being proposed by GCOS with a focus on: · Range of integrated climate-quality products relevant to the needs of the Convention, including those largely dependent upon satellite observations and/or benefiting from the reanalysis of homogeneous historical data. · Identified deficiencies in the underlying data and observing systems, particularly the global baseline networks defined by GCOS Science Panels and the comprehensive references sites required for improvements in understanding and modeling of climate and in the calibration and validation of global satellite data.