COP 21: Possibilities of independent GHG measurements

How much greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere and for how long do they remain? Which factors influence their effect on climate change? How does climate change and land use feedback on the Earth system and how large are the uncertainties?

Within the COP21 Side Event on December 1st, 2015 titled “Trust but Verify: Towards a Comprehensive Global Observation, Information, and Verification System” Prof Martin Heimann, Director at MPI for Biogeochemistry will present the scientific background knowledge to these questions. Just recently the European Commission established the pan-European infrastructure ICOS that will supply precise long-term measurements on emissions and greenhouse gases and with that provide an important verification tool for mitigation and adaptation measures.