3 minute read.
The programme aims to equip the world with the information needed to build resilience and accelerate proactive climate adaptation.
Our planet depends on reducing the consequences of climate change and other environmental degradation. Climate tipping points are critical thresholds that if crossed would have a severe impact on biodiversity, agriculture and humanity.
This programme aims to prevent the catastrophic impacts of tipping points by providing the necessary information for making informed decisions on mitigation and adaption. This requires observational data and model outputs to be analysed and interpreted to a level where decision makers can confidently use it to inform policy.
NPL will work with ARIA to develop standards for the quality assurance of observational data collected by the programme through rigorous calibration and validation, as well as to support the storage, communication and curation of the programme’s data. Ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the data accelerates the programme’s aims of providing an early warning system for climate tipping, the consequences of climate tipping and how quickly any change will unfold.
Emma Woolliams, scientific lead of NPL’s engagement with the programme says: “I am excited by the opportunities of this partnership with ARIA. We are bringing our considerable experience in assessing the quality of observational data sets built from decades of projects with satellite and in-situ observations, as well as our international standardisation efforts with key observational communities, and applying them to this area of significant societal benefit.”
Cyrus Larijani, Strategic Business Development Manager, NPL said: “I’m delighted that NPL is working with ARIA to deliver confidence in data outputs from the Forecasting Tipping Points programme. This work forms an integral part of our wider strategy to deliver highly accurate, actionable climate data, underpinned by metrology, which decision-makers can trust when developing and implementing key environmental policies.”
“In a similar way to how we use monitoring stations to detect and warn for tsunamis, we’re aiming to establish networks of climate monitoring systems to detect early signs of critical shifts in our climate.” said Gemma Bale and Sarah Bohndiek, the ARIA Programme Directors co-leading the programme. “Through these systems, we can equip decision-makers with the data they need to confront the threat of abrupt climate change head on.”
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26 Feb 2025