In response to the rapid rise of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere and the resulting negative climate change impacts, nations, states, and cities, private enterprises and individuals are accelerating GHG reduction efforts while meeting the needs of global development. The urgency, complexity and economic implications of GHG reductions demand strategic investment in science-based information for planning and tracking emission reduction policies and actions.
To help meet this need, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its partners have initiated the development of an Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS). IG3IS combines atmospheric GHG concentration measurements with human-activity data in a modelling and analysis framework to help decision-makers take better-informed action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants that reduce air quality. This service is based on existing and successful measurement and analysis methods and use-cases for which the scientific and technical skill is proven or emerging. The IG3IS Science Implementation Plan documents these good-practice capabilities and was adopted by the WMO Executive Council in June 2018.
The ultimate criterion for IG3IS success is that information provided guides additional and valuable emission-reduction actions. And in order to assure such success, IG3IS must be co-developed with the user communities it hopes to serve - those taking actions and making policy to reduce GHG emissions.
Therefore, WMO is hosting the First IG3IS Symposium and User Summit to be held 13 – 15 November 2018 at WMO Headquarters in Geneva. This Symposium will bring together key users from a number of different sectors to engage in dialogue with technical developers of IG3IS information. Stakeholders and users will be invited to articulate their needs for data-driven GHG emission information, and the scientific community developing IG3IS services will present existing capabilities that can either meet information needs or re-frame the user considerations and the landscape of solutions under consideration The Symposium and Summit will also identify gaps between current capabilities and emerging user requirements and guide IG3IS research and development for future products and services.
For continued and updated information on all things symposium, make sure to check the webpage created for the event here!