World Meteorological Organization

The case for a coordinated Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure
(WMO HQ, 10-12 May 2022)

In order to monitor climate change and assist in mitigation efforts in support of the COP-21 Paris Agreement and COP-26 pledges, systematic  observation of greenhouse gases and other factors affecting the carbon budget  and integration of the output data into global models of the carbon cycle will be required. Currently, most of the overall GHG monitoring efforts  undertaken globally rely heavily on research capabilities and research funding, both in terms of observations and modelling, and sustained global monitoring on a routine daily or even weekly basis is therefore difficult to achieve. Given the increasing focus on the role of carbon as a driver of climate change and its central role in mitigation steps, it is timely to explore the need to transition into an international collaborative operational framework.

To this end the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is hosting an exploratory workshop on “The case for a coordinated Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure” in Geneva from 10 to 12 May 2022, daily from 08:00 – 14:00 CEST (06:00 – 12:00 UTC). The workshop will be conducted primarily as a face-to-face meeting; however, remote access will be made available in case any participant is not able to attend in person.

Agenda and presentations are available HERE

Final recommendations from the workshop are available HERE

The workshop will explore the needs for and the interest in an integrated global GHG monitoring infrastructure, which would include ground-based observations, space-based observations, data exchange mechanisms, data assimilation and modelling tools, and common verification and validation methods. The workshop will seek to engage with both data users and data providers, on both the observations and the modelling side, aiming to:

1. Develop a potential way forward to consolidate integrated observational requirements for global GHG monitoring.
2. Review current and planned observational capabilities for GHG monitoring.
3. Review the current modelling and data assimilation applicable tools for GHG monitoring, including ocean and terrestrial components.
4. Provide recommendations to optimize the use of current and planned overall capabilities for GHG monitoring.
5. Define recommendations for WMO on the best course of action to support GHG and carbon monitoring. 

The workshop will seek to engage with both data users and data providers, both on the observations and the modeling side to establish a way forward:

• to engage with the modelling community to identify and consolidate key observational and scientific gaps that need to be advanced
• for improving global coordination of GHG and carbon monitoring
• for implementing the required sustained observational and modelling capabilities with long-term commitment

The workshop will feature a number of overview presentations by experts in various areas related to greenhouse gas monitoring. In addition, a significant amount of time will be devoted to breakout groups discussing data requirements, scientific and operational challenges, and potential opportunities for increased international coordination in this area. The workshop output will be used to guide WMO and the international community on ways forward for improved and increased international collaboration and coordination in this field. 

>> To GGGW

If you have any questions or requirements related to the meeting, please contact the secretariat at:

Lars Peter Riishojgaard (lriishojgaard@wmo.int)

Oksana Tarasova (otarasova@wmo.int)

Bin Qu (bqu@wmo.int)