Global Climate Observing in Support of Climate Conventions (Invited Presentation)

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) was established in 1992 under the joint sponsorship of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UN Environment Program, and International Council for Science, based on a recommendation from the Second World Climate Conference. The mission of GCOS is to develop requirements for and to coordinate implementation of systematic observations of climate internationally.

During the last decade, the world community has increasingly recognized that understanding climate variability and change is essential to economic, societal and cultural well being. A key element in addressing the needs of climate users for information is a global observing system for climate that will provide data to: · Predict climate variability, such as the El Nino/ La Nina in 1997-98, · Monitor climate change and extreme events, · Assess the impact of climate on society, · Develop national and regional economic applications, · Conduct research and modeling, · Develop strategies for adapting to climate change. Based on scientific inputs from research and operational panels, GCOS has defined an Initial Operational System of atmospheric, meteorological, oceanographic and terrestrial observational networks, including observations from satellites.

A milestone for global observing systems for climate was the adoption of Decision 14 by the Fourth Session of the Conference of Parties (COP4) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Buenos Aires in November 1998. This decision urges the parties to the Convention, inter alia, to develop and implement national observing programs consistent with global observational requirements and to provide for free and unrestricted exchange of data to meet the basic needs of the convention and also to involve developing countries in global observing programs. In response, the GCOS has concentrated on four areas highlighted by the Conference of Parties. 1. Guidelines for the preparation of national plans 2. Intergovernmental process to address priorities for observing systems. 3. Funding for the participation of developing countries and for international coordination. 4. Implementation through regional workshops The paper will discuss the response by GCOS to the Conference of Parties on behalf of the observing systems for climate, report on developments at the fifth session of COP in November 1999, and provide an assessment of future issues facing the global observing systems for climate.