Welcome to the Climate Change Corner, a new column dedicated to raising awareness, providing
education, and inspiring action on one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, it is crucial for individuals, communities,
and businesses in Lesotho to stay informed and engaged. Our goal is to offer valuable insights, practical advice and inspiring stories to help you understand and address the challenges posed by climate change.
Why Climate Change Matters Climate change is not just an environmental issue: it is a global issue that affect every aspect of our lives. From extreme weather events and rising temperatures to shifts in agricultural productivity and biodiversity loss, the consequences of climate change are far-reaching. In Lesotho communities are already facing the impacts, making it essential for us to act now. The Climate Change Corner aims to be your trusted source of information and support, helping you navigate this complex issue. What’s in store for you: Each week, the Climate Change Corner will bring you a diverse range of content designed to inform, educate, and inspire
This week we discuss: METROLOGY
WHAT IS IT?
Metrology is the science of measurement and its application. It encompasses all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement, including the measurement uncertainty and field of application.
Metrology is typically divided into three basic overlapping activities:
» The definition of units of measurement.
» The realization of these units of measurement in practice.
» Metrological traceability—linking measurements made in practice to reference standards.
These overlapping activities are used in varying degrees by the three basic sub-fields of metrology:
» Scientific or fundamental metrology, concerned with the establishment of units of measurement.
» Applied, technical or industrial metrology—the application of measurement to manufacturing and other processes in society.
» Legal metrology, covering the regulation and statutory requirements for measuring instruments and methods of measurement.
HOW DOES METROLOGY SUPPORT CLIMATE ACTION?
Measuring climate-related variables is of fundamental importance for understanding and monitoring climate change. International agreements set clear targets such as the rate at which industrialized countries should reduce their GHG emissions. Compliance with these targets can only be verified with precise and globally
comparable measurement results. As an important pillar of QI, metrology aims to minimize measurement inaccuracies and enable globally comparable measurement results. Metrological testing and calibrations of sensors are essential prerequisites for data collection on climate change. Reliable measurements help to understand climate change better and improve trust in necessary measures to reach climate targets.
Most activities of data gathering and monitoring are performed by the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO), its national members and a variety of partner organizations involved in the Global Observing System (GOS), in the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the international collaborative system working on the Earth’s climate. The need for scientific observations of ever-increasing complexity and accuracy is placing stringent demands for the precision and traceability of measurement results to internationally agreed units.
Important emerging issues include:
» Standards and comparisons for atmospheric composition to ensure the long-term stability and reproducibility of reference materials, and explicitly defined calibration scales and their traceability according to the International System of Units (SI).
» Ultra-sensitive, SI-traceable measurement techniques for measuring the amount-of substance of GHGs.
» Development of suites of SI-traceable, amount of substance, primary gas standard mixtures for key GHGs with low uncertainty.
» Consolidation of the metrology infrastructure to enable SI-traceable radiometric calibration of satellite sensors at uncertainty levels relevant for monitoring the Earth’s climate.
» Leveraging and expanding the use of tools and approaches for data analysis and modelling within the metrology infrastructure, from aspects such as air quality monitoring to other aspects of climate change.
The WMO actively engages with QI institutions addressing standards and conformity assessment practices for measurement in meteorological and climate science through the Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation (CIMO). Complementing the work of WMO’s CIMO there is increasing cooperation with the international metrological community through the BIPM and national metrology institutes (NMIs). This cooperation combines the unique expertise of these two scientific communities in developing and strengthening the use of metrology for meteorology purposes and for the climate community as a whole
CONTEXT & CHALLENGES
Effective climate change mitigation requires the management of GHG emissions and removals. Improving the quality and number of measurements producing data and information on GHG emissions across a range of geographic areas will enable effective mitigation opportunities to be identified and the efficacy of emission reduction measures verified.
Accurate data is foundational to improving the effectiveness of mitigation activities which includes the targeting, quantifying, and tracking of emissions and removals and continued monitoring of their trends across local, regional, continental, and global scales. Identification and addressing of unmet measurement needs can improve national and subnational emission inventories and their reporting.
Advances, particularly in precision, accuracy and granularity at sub-national scales will contribute to increased consistency between locally determined emission and removal amounts and national inventory reports.
Direct measurements and calculation models are increasingly being used to obtain more precise quantifications for different types of activities, for example, the calculation of the actual GHG emissions of a manufacturing plant. The evaluation of GHG emissions, including those from individual organizations, is fundamental to achieving the Paris Agreement goals and requires the widespread engagement of businesses and society. Trusted GHG emissions data from organizations are therefore required to:
» Support the implementation and enforcement of relevant public policies.
» Support organizational management in defining and implementing their climate change strategy as an integral part of a corporate sustainability strategy.
» Accurately inform customers and stakeholders about the organization’s emission-related performance and associated plans.
Countries with sound policies, realistic and well-justified plans and projects for low-carbon development, based on trusted data and backed by an appropriate QI, will have a competitive advantage when requesting climate funding. The same considerations apply for carbon offsetting projects. A QI and fit-for-purpose QI services supporting climate-related action will provide a competitive advantage to those countries that prioritize capacity building in this area
In the upcoming issue, we get to know more about: STANDARDIZATION