Systematic observation
COP 3 (Kyoto, December 1997) and COP 4 (Buenos Aires, November 1998), adopted decisions supporting GCOS and its
partner agencies, and urging Parties to engage fully with their work and provide resources to reverse the decline
in the existing observational networks. At COP 5 (Bonn, October/November 1999), the COP adopted decision 
5/CP.5, inviting the GCOS secretariat, in
consultation with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and
others, to organize regional workshops to identify priority capacity building needs to enhance the participation of
developing countries in systematic observation.
Also at COP 5, the COP urged Parties to address deficiencies in climate observing networks. It adopted reporting guidelines on global climate observing systems and invited Parties to provide detailed reports on systematic observation as part of their national communications (on a voluntary basis, in the case of non-Annex I Parties).
Background