23 October 2008
Global Climate Observing System Steering Committee Convenes
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17 October 2008: The sixteenth session of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Steering Committee took place from 14-17 October 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The GCOS Steering Committee is a group of experts selected for their personal expertise and appointed jointly by the GCOS sponsoring organizations – the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic […]

17 October 2008: The sixteenth session of the Global Climate
Observing System (GCOS) Steering Committee took place from 14-17 October 2008,
in Geneva, Switzerland. The GCOS Steering Committee is a group of experts
selected for their personal expertise and appointed jointly by the GCOS
sponsoring organizations – the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the
International Council for Science (ICSU) – to formulate the overall concept and
scope of GCOS and to provide scientific and technical guidance to the
sponsoring and participating agencies for the planning, implementation and
further development of GCOS. Committee members were presented with an overview
of key activities over the past year and with feedback from sponsors regarding
future development of GCOS.

Participants also focused on the role of main
observing systems contributing to GCOS and reviewed GCOS implementation
mechanisms. The Steering Committee also considered: the link with the user
community, particularly with regard to further development of GCOS to ensure it
meets the needs of user and partner organizations including IPCC and UNFCCC;
and issues related to the future planning and development of GCOS, such as
support for the IPCC and UNFCCC, its profile in the forthcoming in 2009 World
Climate Conference-3, revision of the GCOS Memorandum of Understanding,
finalization of an updated GCOS Plan, and the appointment of GCOS National
Coordinators. [Meeting
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