Progress Toward an Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS)

Accurate and precise atmospheric long-term measurements of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations have revealed the rapid and unceasing rise of global GHG concentrations due to human socioeconomic activity. Long-term observations also show a resulting rise in global temperatures and evidence of negative impacts on society.  In response to this mounting evidence, nations, sub-national governments, private enterprises and individuals are establishing and accelerating efforts to reduce GHG emissions while meeting the needs for global development and increasing energy access.

With this motivation, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its partners have called for an Integrated Global Greenhouse Information System (IG³IS).  The IG³IS will serve as an international coordinating mechanism to establish and propagate consistent methods and standards to help assess emission‑reduction actions.  For the IG³IS initiative to succeed the end users must be involved in all aspects of development so that they understand, trust, and recognize the value of the information they receive, and act more effectively in response. Over time, the IG³IS framework will be capable of promoting and accepting advancing technical capabilities (e.g., new satellite observations), continually improving the quality of and confidence in such information.

By combining accurate atmospheric measurements with enhanced socioeconomic activity data and model analyses we can meet the overarching goals of IG³IS to:

• Reduce uncertainty of emission inventory reporting,
• Locate, quantify and prioritize previously unknown emission reduction opportunities, and
• Provide national and sub-national governments with timely and quantified information to support their assessment of progress towards their mitigation goals.

An effective IG³IS will provide on-going, observation-based information on the relative success of GHG management efforts on policy-relevant scales and the response of the global carbon cycle to a warming world. The presentation will cover the principles and objectives of IG³IS, as well as progress toward answering the questions: What research capabilities are ready and able to deliver useful information and for whom? What decisions will be informed? What valuable and additional outcomes will result?