Tokyo
11-13 January 2017

The GEO Carbonand GHG Initiative
Toward policy-relevant global C & GHG observations and analysis
A. Bombelli et al.
Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Italy

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

GEO-C The GEO Carbon and GHG Initiative
PPT outline:
1- why a GEO C & GHG (GEO-C) initiative?
2- GEO-C objectives and work plan
3- AO contribution to GEO-C
From science, policy and users perspective!

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

The Global Carbon Cycle: a complex interaction of different systems indifferent domains – directly linked to climate change(Source: GEOCARBON Project)

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Monitoring the Global C-Cycle: a complex ensemble of different players, countries,systems, networks, datasets, methodologies, rules, standards...
CEOS (GOSAT,OCO2, TanSat)

What
about
AP region?

SOCAt
ARGO
IOCCP
GLODAP
ICOS
GOOS, Blue Planet

IAGOS

many efforts
are in place but stilla globally coordinated andcomprehensive effort,
ranging from science topolicy, and addressing all
the components of theneeded C&GHG observing
systemis missing

GAW
IG3IS
ICOS

GCOS
GCP

TCCON
NEON
ICOS
inventories… and manyOTHERS!

TokyoTokyo
11-13 January
11-13January2017
2017

State of the art of GHG and carbon cycle knowledge:
despite significant progresses still many issues are in place!
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Uncertainties
Non CO2 GHG (CH4, N2O, etc.)
Tipping points
Critical hotspots
Sustainability of networks
Low global coverage
Lack of interoperability
Lack of communication… others!

… probably another (different) effort is needed!

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

GEO-C: policy relevanceArticle 7 Adaptation
7.7 Strengthening cooperation
Strengthening scientific knowledge on climate, including
research, systematic observation of the climate system tosupport decision-making
Article 14 Global stocktaking
14.1 ...in a comprehensive and facilitative manner, considering
mitigation, adaptation and the means of implementation andsupport, and in the light of equity and the best available science.
Reporting• to be transparent• based on global stocktake• shift from verfication to support for countries to improve reporting

Policy needs reliable GHG-related information

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Progress in 2016: link with UNFCCC
has significantly improved!
• Poster presented at UNFCCCSBSTA-44, Research Dialogue,
19 May 2016, Bonn
• Participation at EarthInfo Day,
10 Nov 2016, Marrakesh• Talk „The GEO Carbon andGHG Initiative – Integration
across domains“• Poster: „GEO´s efforts
in support of the ParisAgreement“Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Users’ needs
Users are mainly: scientific community and policy makers, as well as data managers,
operational agencies (for example for MRV), etc – let’s discuss!
The users need to: be more connected with the scientific community (in case of non-scientific users, ofcourse!) have a common platform to plan joint strategies and implement coordinatedactivities
 ensure the consistency of GEO-C with their needs identified key essential carbon cycle variables within user-defined specifications
and at minimum cost open access repositories with long-term, high quality and near-real-time data andproducts somebody that advocates for the need of data, networks, infrastructures, newplatforms, etc.
 somebody that communicate carbon-related information to mass media
 policy (in case of decision makers) relevant data, information and products, ofsufficient accuracy, coverage and timeliness to support them in addressing climate
policies and anthropogenic climate change⇒ GEO-C can address (possibly) all the above needs

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

PPT outline:
1- why a GEO C & GHG (GEO-C) initiative?
2- GEO-C objectives and work plan
3- AO contribution to GEO-C

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

GEO-C: toward policy-relevant global
carbon cycle observation and analysis
The main aim of the GEO Carbon and GHG Initiative is
to facilitate cooperation to i) develop a coordinatedsystemofdomain
overarchingobservations(atmosphere, land, oceans) from different platforms(space-based, air- and ship-borne and in-situ monitoringsystems) for ii) monitoring and evaluating changes in thecarbon and other cycles, and GHG emissions as they
relate to human activities and climate change, and to iii)
provide decision makers with timely and reliable policyrelevant information.

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Cross cutting challenge – focusing on the interfaces
Insufficient communication/coordination between:-atmosphere, land and ocean communities
in situ and satellite observations
modelers and observers
The GEO C-Initiative:

focus on the interfaces between thedifferent domains/systems(transitional zones)

AtmOcean

LandSpacein situ
observations

modelsTokyo11-13 January 2017

User & Policy

Tasks (2017-2019)

Guidance
to GEO-C• Task 1: User needs andpolicy interface• Task 2: Data accessand availability• Task 3: Optimization ofobservational networks• Task 4: Carbon andGHG budget
calculations

DataNetworks

Assimilation
systems
Products &services
by GEO-C
User & Policy

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Task 1 User needs and policy interface
Task Objectives• Strengthen linkages with policy makers and relevantorganizations (e.g. UNFCCC)• Involve end-users and stakeholders in the activities of theproposed GEO Carbon and GHG Initiative• Ensure consistency with user needs to drive the activities
and address the policy agenda.
Activity 1.1 – User identification
Activity 1.2 – User needs assessment
Activity 1.3 – Address the policy agenda

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Task 2 Data access and availability
Task Objectives• Provide long-term, open access to data and products• Assure that data type, search, attribution, citation, distribution,and storage mode are state-of-the-art, sustainable andcompatible with GEOSS principles• Establish the data platform (database)
Activity 2.1 – Identification and description of key parameters anddatasets to be provided
Activity 2.2 – Identification and description of requirements forinteroperability with other data-providing systems
Activity 2.3 – Data management and data policy
Activity 2.4 – Data access web portal

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Task 3 Optimization of observational networks
Task Objectives• Develop and implement a procedure for achievingobservations of identified essential carbon cycle variables
within user-defined specifications and at minimum total cost
Activity 3.1 – Design of an observing system for essential
carbon cycle variables: This task will create theActivity 3.2 – Generating and testing optimized design
options: This activity will use Bayesian inversion
Activity 3.3 – Periodic adequacy reports

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Task 4 Budget calculations
Task Objectives• Develop consistent budgets of GHGs from local/urban to global
scales using a combination of observations, inventories, models anddata assimilation techniques.
• Produce information (including C-budgets) to support the needs ofpolicy makers at all scales from urban (e.g. large cities) to national,regional and the globe as well as a mechanism for verification.
Activity 4.4.3.1: Identification of test cases at different scales
Activity 4.4.3.2: Design of budget calculation approaches at each scale
Activity 4.4.3.3: Implementation of methodology
Activity 4.4.3.4: Scale consistency cross-comparison and interpretation
Activity 4.4.3.5: Development of resources for policy makers

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

List of Deliverables (1/2)
1.1 A list of user groups identified and committed to interact with this initiative.
1.2 A user needs assessment report.
2.1 Identification and description of key parameters and datasets to be provided by GEOCarbon (Report and published paper)
2.2 Identification and description of requirements for interoperability of GEO Carbon withother data-providing systems (Report)
2.3 GEO Carbon data management and data policy (Report)
2.4 An operational single-location data access web portal for GEO Carbon data
2.5 A report describing the GEO Carbon data portal (includes outcomes from all Task
activities)
3.1 Essential Carbon Variables: global assessment, including inputs from C-cycle
researchers and information users, of which variables must be observed, where, how, howaccurately and frequently, and how the observation system (including it various parts, and theprocessing chain all the way to end user) can be configured [Report and published paper].
3.2 Costs and attributes of options for a global carbon observing system [Report andpublished paper]
3.3 Spatial and temporal information reliability for essential carbon cycle variables in the year
2020 [Report, periodically updated]Tokyo11-13 January 2017

List of Deliverables (2/2)
4.1 Test case identification: global assessment, including inputs from C-cycle researchers andinformation users, of which variables must be observed, where, how, how accurately and frequently,
and how the observation system (including it various parts, and the processing chain all the way toend user) can be configured. [Report and published paper]
4.2 Development of consistent cross-scale methodologies in a traceable manner, identifying
assumptions, scale generalizations, observation requirements and gaps [Report and paper]
4.3 Calculations for all scales based on existing knowledge and methodological approaches [FirstReport]
4.4 Calculations for all scales based on experience from the first exercise (deliverables 3 and 6) andimprovements in methodology [Second Report]
4.5 Calculations for all scales based on experience from the second exercise (deliverables 4 and 7)
and improvements in methodology [Third Report and Paper]
4.6 and 4.7 Inter-comparison of results and methods in a traceable manner across scales [1st and 2ndReport]
4.8 Initial policy resource development (resource web site, summary for policy makers at each scale)
4.9 Policy resource development (tailoring to specifics of each scale and target audience)
4.10 Policy resource development (generation of quasi-operational resource products at each scale)
4.11 Improved and yearly updated global budgets for CO2 and CH4 (jointly with GCP)
4.12 Improved regional carbon budgets at higher spatial resolution (jointly with GCP)
4.13 Preliminary carbon budgets of selected cities (jointly with GCP).

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Next Steps (short term)• Check and align with the new GCOS-IP that is now
looking across carbon cycle.
• Fix dates for a face to face meeting. One option is tojoin it with the next 10th International Carbon Dioxide
Conference, 21-25 August 2017 Interlaken,
Switzerland. Suggestions?
• Fix working groups (at task and sub-tasks level) andstart working at WG level before the meeting.
• Nominate the advisory board members.

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Needed resources
The preparatory phase (2016) andassociated activities have been sustained
mainly by in-kind resources from theinstitutions willing to participate.

The implementation phase(2017-2025) need to besustained by specific resources
to be raised.
NO financial support ⇒ NO Flagship!

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

PPT outline:
1- why a GEO C & GHG (GEO-C) initiative?
2- GEO-C objectives and work plan
3- AO contribution to GEO-C

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

GEO-C and the AP Region• AP region plays an important role in the global C-cycle andfor what concerns GHG emissions and sinks• In the AP Region there are many research institutions,
agencies, organizations, etc., that play a key role in C &GHG observations and analysis
Expectations from WG3 discussion• Assess the status of C & GHG related observations in theAP region, including data availability• Highlight gaps and weakness in the AP region andunderstand what may be need from GEO-C• Further refine and increase the AP contribution to GEO-C• Others?

seenextPPTs

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Global challenges – also relevant to AP region• Need for coordination of the existing efforts which arescattered worldwide• Further improvement and expansion toregional/global scale• Commitments at country level to invest the needed
resources to establish and sustain a long term
operational global observing system for carbon cycleand greenhouse gases

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

Partnership
The ideal candidate to join the GEO-C partnership is any entity:• With a mandate on GHG observations and/or analysis• With international relevance and geographical focus fromregional to global level• With a role in GEO• Having responsibilities on relevant monitoring site(s) ornetwork(s) and/or satellite mission(s)• Managing (or contributing to) relevant datasets• Developing relevant models and other products• With expertise on science-policy interface• Willing to commit resources (in kind, human,financial) for the 2017-2025 periodTokyo11-13 January 2017

Current Partnership (AP countries in bold)
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CAS, China•
CEOS, International•
CMCC, Italy•
ESA, EU•
GCP, Internationl•
Gifu University, Japan•
Hawassa University, Ethiopia•
ICOS, Europe•
IIASA, International•
JAMSTEC, Japan•
JAXA, Japan•
JMA, Japan
LSCE (CEA CNRS UVSQ), France

NASA, USA
NIES, JapanNOAA, USA
Princeton University, USA
Sigma Space Corp., USASRON, Netherlands
Stanford University, USA
U.S. Carbon Cycle Science
Program Office, USA
UiB, Norway
UKZN, South Africa
University of the Witwatersrand,South Africa

Contributions from other AP relevant partners
are welcomed!

Tokyo11-13 January 2017

TheTHANKS!
GEO Carbonand GHG Initiative
List of contributors (non exhaustive)
A. Bombelli1, J.H. Butler2, J.G. Canadell3, P. Ciais4, P. DeCola5, A.J. Dolman6, R.M. Duren7,D.-G. Kim8, W.L. Kutsch9, S. Houweling10, J.V. Lavric9, H. Loescher11, H. Muraoka12, A.
Obregón13, B. Pfeil14, S.E. Plummer15, N. Saigusa16, R.J. Scholes17, T. Tanhua18, M.
Telszewski19, A.T. Vermeulen20, L. Yi21
1CMCC, Italy, 2NOAA, US, 3CSIRO, Australia, 4LSCE, France, 5SIGMA, US, 6VU University
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 7JPL-NASA, US, 8Wondo Genet College, Ethiopia, 9ICOS, Finland,10SRON, Netherlands, 11NEON, US, 12Gifu Univ., Japan, 13GEO-Sec, int., 14UIB, Norway,15ESA Climate Office, UK, 16NIES, Japan, 17Witwatersrand Univ., South Africa, 18GEOMAR,Germany, 19IOCCP, int., 20ICOS, Lund Univ., Sweden, 21IAP/CAS, China