IGBP: Role and Objective

• to describe and understand Earth System dynamics

• focusing on the interactive biological, chemical and physical processes

• the changes that are occurring in these dynamics

• and the role of human activities in these changes

IGBP is an international scientific research programme onglobal change. Its objective is:

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme

Value-adding ActivitiesIGBP integrates a large number of contributing projects through:

• design and implemention of international research frameworks agreed by the scientific community

• efficient strategies for resource allocation

• international networking, standardisation of methodologies, model intercomparisons, synthesis

Biogeochemical drivers and feedbacks in the climate system(with WCRP)

Impacts and adaptation studies, focusing on land and coastalsystems (with IHDP)

Palaeo-climate studies to provide a long-time perspective onclimate and global change (with WCRP)

Meeting the TAR Research Challenges

Chemistry - Climate Coupling

Land-cover ChangeC Cycle - Nutrient Coupling

Impact and Adaptation StudiesDesigned and implemented jointly by IHDP and IGBP

Place-based, focusing on the characteristics of the locale or region under study

Places climate change in the context of multiple, interactingstresses at a range of scales

Combines scenario-driven approaches with vulnerability and resilience approaches; often focuses on ecosystem goods andservices (cf. Millenium Ecosystem Assessment)

A Millennium Scale Perspective ...N

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IGBP thanks SBSTA for the opportunity to present

our research