The Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (‘GCOS IP', 2004) has achieved a remarkable degree of international consensus, and has led to incorporation of the relevant components within the planning processes of the Sponsors of GCOS (WMO, IOC/UNESCO, UNEP, ICSU), their subsidiary bodies and most of the international organizations involved with climate. GCOS comprises the climate components of the observing systems considered by the WMO, the Global Ocean Observing System, the Global Terrestrial Observing System and other coordination bodies who have also adopted the Implementation plan. These decisions have resulted in effectively establishing the necessary international framework for standards and coordination for the collection of atmospheric and oceanic Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). Significant further work remains to be done in establishing the appropriate standards and coordination mechanisms for the terrestrial ECVs but is underway.

The GCOS IP has also provided a framework for strengthening climate observations on the national levels where actual implementation takes place, and there are countries where increased consideration of GCOS has led to augmented funding levels for national observational programmes. In turn, space agencies, working through international coordination mechanisms such as CEOS, CGMS and the WMO Space Programme, have addressed the recommendations made in Systematic Observation Requirements for Satellite-based Products for Climate (2006), the ‘Satellite Supplement' to the GCOS IP. Further, the GCOS has been recognized as the climate observation component of GEOSS.

In response to a request from the UNFCCC, GCOS is now preparing a comprehensive report on progress against the GCOS IP, together with an update of the IP, for completion by mid-2009. This report will confirm ongoing requirements, as well as focus on new actions and drivers such as the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability agenda, regional climate needs, and a possible revision of the ECVs. In due course they will be available in draft form for community comment prior to their finalisation.

The progress report, and the updated GCOS IP, is using information mainly from

(i) performance reports from GCOS monitoring centres and partner observing systems and their technical advisory bodies

(ii) information on national activities related to systematic observation,

(iii) results from the workshop “Future Climate Change Research and Observations: GCOS, WCRP and IGBP Learning from the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report”.

The aim of this paper is to describe the status of the global climate observing system (of systems), progress made since 2004, and remaining challenges for the future. This background and an overview of the draft report will be presented.