GCOS Implementation Plan - WMO

Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC
(2010 Update)
Action C3
Action: Review the projects contained in RAPs for consistency with this Plan and update and
revise the RAPs as necessary.
Who: Regional organizations and associations in cooperation with the GCOS Secretariat and the
bodies responsible for the component observing systems.
Time-Frame: 2011.
Performance Indicator: Implementation strategy meetings held and number of RAP projects
implemented.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (90% in non-Annex-I Parties).
3.1.3. National Reporting
Reporting on systematic climate observation activities by the Parties as part of their National
Communications under the UNFCCC has been valuable in the planning and implementation of the
global observing system for climate. Updated guidelines 52 for such reporting, consistent with the IP-
04, were adopted by the UNFCCC COP 13 in 2007 (Decision 11/CP.13). 53 In order to improve the
understanding of climate and climate change, and for the UNFCCC to be implemented effectively,
accurate and credible information relative to all aspects of climate observations must be exchanged
according to these guidelines.
Action C4 [IP-04 C4]
Action: Report to the UNFCCC on systematic climate observations using current guidelines.
Who: Parties with the UNFCCC.
Time-Frame: Conforming with UNFCCC guidelines.
Performance Indicator: Number of Parties reporting within specified timeframes.
Annual Cost Implications: 1-10M US$ (70% in non-Annex-I Parties).
3.1.4. Implementation
Beyond planning and reporting, it is essential to initiate specific processes to ensure progress on the
actual implementation of the GCOS. Sections 4, 5 and 6 make detailed suggestions for the
implementation in the different domains. As noted earlier, because almost all Actions ultimately occur
at the national level, it is important to have regular reports to the UNFCCC on the actual status of
implementation of the global observing system for climate. To the extent that resources allow, the
GCOS Secretariat will therefore continue to monitor, and where appropriate facilitate, implementation
of the global observing system for climate, keep this Plan under review, and report to the UNFCCC on
progress and evolving needs.
3.2. Toward Sustained Networks and Systems
Observations of several climate-system variables are made in the context of research programmes or
by space agencies whose primary mission is research and development. This is particularly so in the
atmospheric composition, the oceanic, and the terrestrial domains. Once methods are sufficiently
mature to guarantee a sustained set of observations to known and acceptable levels of accuracy and
stability to their users, they need to be sustained into the future as an operational observing system.
The operational system includes the acquisition (measurement), transmission (reporting), analysis,
and archiving of the data housed in an organization with an appropriate institutional mandate and
sustained funding. Often the optimum arrangement is for the operation to be funded as part of a
research laboratory’s responsibility; in other cases it may involve the transfer of responsibility from
one organization to another. This transfer of responsibility also implies sustained dialogue between
the operational entities and the research community so that the operational arm may benefit from
scientific advances. Although this transition into operation has been difficult to implement in national
and organizational planning, recent progress involving the space agencies and some others has
occurred and further improvements are encouraged. The GCOS Secretariat will, with the agreement
of the involved research entities and at the appropriate time, work with the relevant international
52 http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/index.php?name=UNFCCCGuidelines
53 UNFCCC (2008): Report of the Conference of the Parties on its thirteenth session, held in Bali from 3 to 15 December 2007;
Addendum: Decision 11/CP.13 (Reporting on global observing systems for climate), FCCC/CP/2007/6/Add.2,
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2007/cop13/eng/06a02.pdf#page=1
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