GCOS - Global Climate Observing System
The Global Climate Observing System programme (GCOS) - co-sponsored by the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the International Scientific Council (ISC) – collects and documents the data needs for
monitoring the climate system and assessing the impacts of climate variability and change.
GCOS regularly produces status reports, which assess the progress and unmet requirements in
the climate observing systems, followed by implementation plans, which propose actions for its
improvement. These periodic reports are submitted every 5 years to the United Nations
Framework Convention (UNFCCC) and are recognized by the Conference of the Parties (e.g.
Decision 19/CP.22).
This 2022 GCOS Implementation Plan provides recommendations for a sustained and fit for
purpose Global Climate Observing System. Global climate monitoring needs to cover the entire
Earth system from the atmosphere to the oceans, from the cryosphere to the biosphere, and
encompassing the water, energy and carbon cycles. The GCOS Implementation Plan supports
and serves WMO Member States in addressing the challenges of climate change and the
implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Implementation plan 2022
ECV - Essential Climate Variables
Cooperating Institutes
