Worldwide systematic observation of the climate system is a key prerequisite for advancing scientific knowledge on climate change.  The Convention calls on Parties to promote and cooperate in systematic observation of the climate system, including through support to existing international programmes and networks, as indicated in Articles 4.1(g) and 5 of the Convention.   A key dimension for the implementation of those Articles has been the cooperation with the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) secretariat of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other agencies participating in WMO's Climate Agenda. more >>

SBSTA 37 (26 November - 1 December 2012, Doha, Qatar) continued its consideration of research and systematic observation on the basis of the draft text from SBSTA 36.  With regard to systematic observation, the SBSTA:

• Welcomed the plan of the GCOS to prepare a third report on the adequacy of the global observing systems for climate, and invited GCOS to provide this report by SBSTA 43;
• Welcomed the preparation of a new implementation plan for the global observing system for climate, and invited the GCOS secretariat to provide a draft of this new plan by SBSTA 43, and the final implementation plan by SBSTA 45;
• Noted the importance of systematic observation for vulnerability assessments and adaptation, with a specific emphasis on developing countries, and encouraged Parties to contribute to the identification of emerging needs for systematic observation;
• Welcomed GCOS activities to support needs for climate observations, such as updating the Satellite Supplement to the 2010 updated GCOS implementation plan and regional activities to improve climate observations capacities;
• Expressed its appreciation to CEOS for its update on progress made in its coordinated response to relevant to the needs of the Convention with regard to global observations from space; and noted the importance of continuing and sustaining satellite observations on a long-term basis, and the role of CEOS in promoting full and open data sharing;
• Invited CEOS to provide, by SBSTA 41, an updated report on progress made by space agencies providing global observations in their coordinated response to relevant needs of the Convention;
• Took note of information provided by GCOS on behalf of GTOS on developments in climate-related terrestrial observations;
• Noted with appreciation the information from WMO on the outcome of the Extraordinary Session of the World Meteorological Congress, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 29 to 31 October 2012, with respect to the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services, and invited WMO to provide, at SBSTA 39, information on the outcome of the first session of the Intergovernmental Board on Climate Services, to be held in July 2013. The SBSTA recommended draft conclusions on this matter for adoption by COP 18.

For the full text of the SBSTA 37 conclusions on research and systematic observation, see FCCC/SBSTA/2012/L.25 and Add.1.

For SBSTA 36, the GCOS secretariat provided a brief update on matters emerging from the 2010 updated GCOS implementation plan and related GCOS activities(FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.4), addressing, inter alia, the future preparations of a third adequacy report and new GCOS implementation plan, recent regional initiatives of the GCOS secretariat, and the publication of an update of the Satellite Supplement to the 2010 updated GCOS implementation plan.

In addition, statements on developments relevant to systematic observation were delivered by representatives of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

At SBSTA 33, the GTOS was invited to report to SBSTA 35 on progress made on a number of matters realting to climate-related terrestrial observations. At SBSTA 35, the GTOS secretariat provided a summary of progress (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/MISC.14), indicating that the report invited by the SBSTA 33 would be submitted to SBSTA 36. However, this report was not available for SBSTA 36.

SBSTA 36 took note of the view of Parties and the progress made in developing draft conclusions under this agenda item, and agreed to continue consideration of research and systematic observation at SBSTA 37 on the basis of the draft text contained in the annex II of FCCC/SBSTA/2012/2.

Research and systematic observation has been a regular and separate agenda item of the SBSTA since its seventeenth session (October 2002).

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