Abstract

The Global Climate Observing System, GCOS , is the body charged with managing requirements for climate observations and advocating for and coordinating their delivery, primarily to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties.

Published at COP22 in Marrakech in 2016, the latest implementation plan sets out the future needs of the climate community. Building on previous versions, the 2016 edition went further in taking into account the needs of broader communities, notably in adaptation and mitigation. It also included discussion of historic and future climate indicators and their development. It also described how climate observations are relevant to other aspects ofsustainability and environmental management.

Stephen will describe the Plan and its development and discuss how it relates to the Paris Agreement reached at CoP21. In particular he will describe the importance of satellite observations for climate and will discuss how broader observations of climate parameters are needed to assess societal progress against the Paris Agreement and how they can be better used in the management of climate risk.