Strengthening greenhouse gas monitoring: insights from the global and national initiatives workshop
In a rapidly warming world, monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a critical pillar of climate action. To advance this objective, G3W experts actively participated in in-depth discussions with the scientific community during a pivotal workshop.
The workshop “Global and National Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Initiatives”, held on October 23–24, 2024, at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, underscored the importance of enhancing the precision and coverage of GHG observations globally.
The workshop, which brought together approximately 40 scientists, also served as a platform to highlight the ambitious goals of the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W).
Participants emphasized the critical need to expand observational coverage while maintaining high data quality. These efforts are essential to track emissions effectively and support mitigation actions aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Expanding GHG Observations: Quality Assurance as a Cornerstone
Achieving meaningful progress in GHG monitoring requires more than just increasing the number of observation sites. Workshop participants stressed the importance of a robust quality assurance system to ensure high-quality measurement data with adequate spatial and temporal coverage. These measures are vital for accurately assessing GHG emissions and sinks. Priority gases for monitoring include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O).
Recognizing the importance of reference materials for accurate measurements, the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM) Working Group on Gas Analysis (GAWG) has established a task group on GHG scales. This group focuses on developing procedures for scale establishment, maintenance, and value transfer, starting with carbon dioxide measurements in the air.
Challenges in Expanding Monitoring Capabilities
The workshop identified several challenges in enhancing GHG monitoring capabilities:
- Calibration Resources: Increasing availability of high-quality gas reference materials globally.
- Technical Advancements: Investing in research to improve measurement accuracy and efficiency.
- Infrastructure Development: Expanding and modernizing monitoring networks to provide comprehensive coverage.
- Global Coordination: Ensuring consistency by aligning national and international monitoring efforts.
Conclusion and Future Directions
Addressing these challenges will enable the G3W and scientific community to build a robust, transparent, and reliable framework for GHG monitoring. Improved data quality and expanded coverage are essential to support climate action plans, empowering policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to respond effectively to the challenges of climate change.
The complete workshop report will be made available on the BIPM website.