Updated: 17-11-2022
Source: WMO
An international conference has declared its commitment to a “comprehensive and sustainable global climate observing system” which is needed more than ever in view of rapid climate change.
Observations of our climate show unprecedented changes that are more widespread, rapid, and intense than in thousands of years. These changes affect all components of the climate system and every region on Earth. They cause more frequent and more extreme events such as heat waves, storms, heavy rainfall, and droughts that strongly impact human infrastructures and living beings, according to a declaration issued by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) conference.
“Observations underpin all weather, climate, water, and ecosystems services and products. Without the collection and sharing of these observations, the ability to understand, predict, mitigate, and adapt to changes in the climate system is limited,” Sabrina Speich, said the GCOS Climate Observation Conference chair.
The conference hosted by EUMETSATfrom 17-19 October 2022 in Germany, focused on addressing urgent needs and gaps, and developed strategies and solutions for a sustainable future. It brought together 140 participants onsite and 400 online participants.
“Current changes to the climate are posing a threat to the Earth. The steps we take today matter for our future and EUMETSAT aims to play a part in supporting a more sustainable way forward for the planet,”EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evanssaid at the close of the conference and in a statement on the organization’s commitment to address climate change.
Climate observations have been instrumental in the development of scientific assessments and policies, including Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and the 2015 Paris Agreement. They are the cornerstone of our efforts to mitigate climate change, adapt to future conditions and reduce and address future loss and damage.
The newly released2022 GCOS Implementation Planspecifies the climate observations required to inform science, services and society. The report was requested by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The GCOS Implementation Plan identifies existing gaps in Earth observations and areas in need of improvement. These needs must be urgently addressed to progress towards a comprehensive and sustainable global climate observing system.
The conference promoted international dialogue amongst climate scientists, observations experts, operational services, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and policy makers. It calls for a collective effort to sustain and improve the climate observing system, by defining a “global goal for observations”.
Source:WMO
Editor:Xu Nenyu