Public review: Global Climate Observing System Implementation Plan 2016

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) has announced that it is taking public comments on its draft 2016 Implementation Plan. The plan will guide the programme's activities around coordinating international climate observations for the next decade. It will replace GCOS's 2004 Implementation Plan, which was last updated in 2010, and takes "into account the latest developments in earth observations and climate policy."

The programme plans to submit the final version of the plan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change during the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) in November in Marrakesh, Morocco. GCOS invites anyone with an interest in climate observations to comment on the document.

The review period for this document is open now and extends until 5 September. To read the draft document or submit comments, visit the GCOS site here.

According to GCOS, its vision is:

…that all users have access to the climate observations, data records and information which they require to address pressing climate-related concerns. GCOS users include individuals, national and international organizations, institutions and agencies. The role of GCOS is to work with partners to ensure the sustained provision of reliable physical, chemical and biological observations and data records for the total climate system – across the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains, including hydrological and carbon cycles and the cryosphere.

GCOS was formed in 1992 and is co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU).