National Aeronautics and Space Administration

An Overview of The Global Greenhouse Gas Watch

About the Talk The Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W) fills critical information gaps on greenhouse gases (GHGs), via an integrated operational framework that optimally combine Earth Observations with Earth System Models using Data Assimilation and Artificial Intelligence techniques to reduce the uncertainty in assessing the efficacy of Climate Action. The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Global Atmosperic Watch and in particular the Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS) research activities continue to support G3W improving Members ability to monitor greenhouse gas fluxes into and out of the atmosphere on global scale and creating information services at specific decision relevant scales (eg. Urban) and for specific sectors to inform mitigation actions and monitor their impact. The Research to Operation (R2O) transition of activities related to infrastructure deployment for the Surface-based Observing system and the integration of the Spacebased Observing system, as well as the Operation to Research (O2R) foreseen benefits have been discussed at the recent WMO INFCOM3 intergovernmental session the Infrastructure Commission.

About the Speaker Gianpaolo Balsamo serves as the director at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), having joined in 2024 to lead the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W). This new flagship initiative aims to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement through the use of Earth Observations and Earth System Models. The G3W is dedicated to providing authoritative and precise data to support the Global Stocktake and the Nationally Determined Contributions under the Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement. Before this role, Balsamo coordinated the CO2 Human Emission European project, a precursor to the Copernicus CO2 service, CoCO2. This project was developed by the European Commission's Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus, with support from the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe Research Frameworks. Balsamo holds a Ph.D. and a professorial accreditation from the University Paul Sabatier Toulouse III in Earth System Science. He is also an invited professor for the Climate Change Solutions Master's program at the Politecnico di Torino. Prior to his affiliation with the WMO, he joined the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) in 2006, where he was a principal scientist. His focus was on Earth system coupled process modelling within the Integrated Forecasting System of the ECMWF, a world leader in weather forecasting and climate reanalysis, such as ERA5. Earlier in his career, Balsamo worked for Environment & Climate Change Canada in Montréal, where he pioneered the Canadian Land Data Assimilation System (CaLDAS). He also specialized in data assimilation of Earth Observations at Météo-France in Toulouse. Born and educated in Torino, Balsamo has a deep affection for his city and region. To date, he has lived and worked in five countries: Italy, France, Canada, the UK, and currently, Switzerland.

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