Adequacy of Climate Observing Systems (1999)

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling Article 4.1(g) and (h), and Article 5 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its decision 8/CP.3,

Having considered the documents on the development of observational networks of the climate system submitted to it by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice¹,

Noting with appreciation the comprehensive report on the adequacy of the global observing systems for climate prepared and coordinated by the Global Climate Observing System secretariat in the World Meteorological Organization on behalf of organizations participating in the Climate Agenda,

Noting the conclusions of the report that, inter alia, in many instances global and regional coverage is inadequate,

Noting the recommendations contained in the report to improve the global observing systems for climate,

Noting the ongoing work of the agencies participating in the Climate Agenda and others in support of global observing systems for climate, including their contribution to capacity-building,

Recognizing the significant national contributions made to the global observing systems for climate,

1. Urges Parties to undertake programmes of systematic observation, including the preparation of specific national plans, in response to requests from agencies participating in the Climate Agenda, based on the information developed by the Global Climate Observing System and its partner programmes;
2. Urges Parties to undertake free and unrestricted exchange of data to meet the needs of the Convention, recognizing the various policies on data exchange of relevant international and intergovernmental organizations;
3. Urges Parties to actively support the building of capacity in developing countries to enable them to collect, exchange and utilize data to meet local, regional and international needs;
4. Urges Parties to strengthen international and intergovernmental programmes assisting countries to acquire and use climate information;
5. Urges Parties to actively support national meteorological and atmospheric observing systems, including measurement of greenhouse gases, in order to ensure that the stations identified as elements of the Global Climate Observing System networks, based on the World Weather Watch and Global Atmosphere Watch, and underpinning the needs of the Convention, are fully operational and use best practices;
6. Urges Parties to actively support national oceanographic observing systems, to ensure that the elements of the Global Climate Observing System and Global Ocean Observing System networks in support of ocean climate observations are implemented and, to the extent possible, support an increase in the number of ocean observations, particularly in remote locations, and to establish and maintain reference stations;
7. Urges Parties to actively support national terrestrial networks including observational programmes to collect, exchange and preserve terrestrial data according to the Global Climate Observing System and the Global Terrestrial Observing System climate priorities and particularly hydrosphere, cryosphere and ecosystem observations;
8. Requests Parties to submit information on national plans and programmes in relation to their participation in global observing systems for climate, in the context of reporting on research and systematic observation, as an element of national communications for Parties included in Annex I to the Convention (Annex I Parties) and, as appropriate, for Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties);

9. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, in consultation with the agencies participating in the Climate Agenda, drawing, inter alia, on the information provided in the second national communications of Annex I Parties and, as appropriate, in the initial national communications of non-Annex I Parties, to inform the Conference of the Parties at its fifth session of developments regarding observational networks, difficulties encountered, inter alia, with respect to the needs of developing countries and options for financial support to reverse the decline in observational networks;
10. Invites the agencies participating in the Climate Agenda, in consultation with the Global Climate Observing System Secretariat, to initiate an intergovernmental process for addressing the priorities for action to improve global observing systems for climate in relation to the needs of the Convention and, in consultation with the Convention secretariat and other relevant organizations, for identifying immediate, medium-term and long-term options for financial support; and requests the secretariat to report results to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice at its tenth session.

11. Adopted at the 5th Plenary Meeting

    11 November 1998