Geneva:The Global Climate Observing System is reportedly facing significant challenges due to fragile funding and critical gaps, threatening its ability to forecast extreme weather and monitor climate phenomena like El Niño.
According to World Meteorological Organization, the COP31 Co-Presidents from Türkiye and Australia issued an unprecedented call to action during a high-level event at the UN climate conference, emphasizing the need to protect the observing system. The Global Climate Observing System, co-sponsored by the WMO and other partners, is crucial for monitoring Earth's climate through more than 50 essential climate variables across various domains, yet it faces risks due to insufficient sustained financing and coordination.
Celeste Saulo, the WMO Secretary-General, highlighted the system's importance, stating that it is essential to continuously monitor the planet's climate. Despite spending close to $10 billion annually on climate observations, persistent gaps and funding issues threaten the continuity of systematic observations. A new video by GCOS Chair Thelma Krug, premiered at the event, pointed out significant concerns regarding the degradation of key components of the Global Ocean Observation System, which is vital for predicting climate phenomena.
The WMO Secretary-General also noted that many climate observation records are maintained through short-term funding, creating vulnerabilities. The draft GCOS High-Priority Action Plan identifies three connected priorities to address these issues protecting essential observing capabilities, closing data gaps, and sustaining international coordination.
The High-Priority Action Plan and a forthcoming GCOS Status Report are currently under public review, with publication scheduled for February 2027 to inform related UNFCCC activities. A recent Global Ocean Observing System Status report also highlighted progress and ongoing challenges in marine and ocean monitoring.
