Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: a Review of Available and Future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compliance
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Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: A Review of Available and Future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compliance Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, October 20-22, 1999 Workshop Report Edited by: Å. Rosenqvist, M. Imhoff, A. Milne and C. Dobson Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: A Review of Available and Future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compliance Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, October 20-22, 1999 The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing - ISPRS Working Groups on Global Monitoring (VII/5) and Radar Applications (VII/6) in collaboration with the University of Michigan Organizers and Editorial Panel: Åke Rosenqvist, ISPRS WG VII/5 (European Commission - DG JRC) [email protected] / [email protected] Marc Imhoff, ISPRS WG VII/5 (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) [email protected] Anthony Milne, ISPRS WG VII/6 (University of New South Wales) [email protected] Craig Dobson (University of Michigan) [email protected] Panel speakers and/or report contributors: Frank Ahern, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Alan Belward, European Commission - DG JRC Ralph Dubayah, University of Maryland Alfred de Gier, ITC Richard Lucas, University of New South Wales Steven Mirmina, NASA HQ, Office of General Counsel Jiaguo Qi, Michigan State University Dan Reifsnyder, U.S. State Department Paul Siqueira, Jet Propulsion Laboratory David Skole, Michigan State University John Townshend, University of Maryland Philip Tickle, Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences Robert Treuhaft, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Compton Tucker, University of Maryland Lars Ulander, Swedish Defence Research Establishment Thomas Wagner, University of Michigan Diane Wickland, NASA HQ, Terrestrial Ecology Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: A Review of Available and Future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compliance Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. October 20-22, 1999 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................4 1.1. BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................4 1.2. REMOTE SENSING AND THE KYOTO PROTOCOL ...................................................................................4 II. SOME LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT REMOTE SENSING..........................................5 III. OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES ................................5 3.1. APPLYING REMOTE SENSING TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL......................................................................5 3.1.1. Provision of systematic observations of relevant land cover ........................................................6 3.1.2. Support to the establishment of a 1990 carbon stock baseline .....................................................7 3.1.3. Detection and spatial quantification of change in land cover ......................................................8 3.1.4. Quantification of above-ground vegetation biomass stocks and associated changes therein ......9 3.1.5. Mapping and monitoring of certain sources of anthropogenic CH4,..........................................11 3.2. SUMMARY OF REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS...................................................................................12 3.3. IN SITU DATA.......................................................................................................................................13 IV. FUTURE ACTIONS.........................................................................................................................13 4.1. RESEARCH TOPICS ................................................................................................................................13 4.2. ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY ..............................................................................................................14 V. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................15 5.1. SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................15 5.2. RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................................16 VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................................17 VII. ACRONYMS.....................................................................................................................................17 VIII. REFERENCES..................................................................................................................................17 APPENDICES Workshop Agenda and Participant List I Technical Papers presented at the Workshop II The Kyoto Protocol III International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), WG VII/5 and VII/6 3 Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: A Review of Available and Future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compliance Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. October 20-22, 1999 I. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change contains quantified, legally binding commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels and allows carbon emissions to be balanced by carbon sinks represented by vegetation. The issue of using vegetation cover as an emission offset raises a debate about the adequacy of measurement and monitoring methodologies, and of current and planned remote sensing systems and data archives to both assess carbon stocks/sinks at 1990 levels, and monitor the current and future global status of those stocks. These concerns and the potential ratification of the Protocol among participating countries is stimulating policy debates and underscoring a need for the exchange of information between the international legal community and the remote sensing community. On October 20-22 1999, two working groups of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) joined with the University of Michigan (Michigan, USA) to convene discussions on how remote sensing technology could contribute to the information requirements raised by implementation of and compliance with the terms of the Kyoto Protocol. The meeting originated as a joint effort between the Global Monitoring Working Group and the Radar Applications Working Group in Commission VII of the ISPRS, co-sponsored by the University of Michigan. The meeting was attended by representatives from national government agencies and international organizations and academic institutions. Some of the key themes addressed were: · Legal aspects of transnational remote sensing in the context of the Kyoto Protocol; · A review of current and future remote sensing technologies that could be applied to the Kyoto Protocol; · Identification of areas where additional research is needed in order to advance and align remote sensing technology with the requirements and expectations of the Protocol. · The bureaucratic and research management approaches needed to align the remote sensing community with both the science and policy communities. 1.2. Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol While global inventory of all six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol is an overarching requirement and a daunting task, it was recognized by the workshop participants that, at present, the remote sensing community is best equipped to address CO2 and CH4. Within the context of the Kyoto Protocol (see Annex III), Article 10 was recognized as a key driver, in which contributions can be made to provide systematic observations and data archives in order to reduce uncertainties in the global terrestrial carbon budget. Specific contributions can be made to supporting national and international networks and observation programs, especially for above-ground biomass, and for assessing trends and shifts in land cover. The importance of Article 3 and Article 12 (the Clean Development Mechanism) of the Kyoto Protocol were recognized, and that Earth Observation can help support national accounting of Afforestation, Reforestation and Deforestation (ARD) under these articles. Also relevant is that countries shall, by the first commitment period (2008-2012), report in a transparent and verifiable matter their CO2 equivalent emissions of greenhouse gases. Another milestone is 2005, by which countries shall have made "demonstrable progress" towards achieving their assigned emission limitation and reduction commitments under the Protocol (Article 3). The group reviewed a large number of remote sensing instruments and categorised them according to how they might be best applied to support the Kyoto Protocol. The primary emphasis was on satellite based technologies - although some aircraft platform based sensors were also discussed. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), WG VII/5 and VII/6 4 Remote Sensing and the Kyoto Protocol: A Review of Available and Future Technology for Monitoring Treaty Compliance Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. October 20-22, 1999 II. SOME LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT REMOTE SENSING One initial topic addressed during the workshop was the legal implications of using remote sensing technology for treaty verification, within the context of international laws, policies and remote sensing treaties (e.g. UN Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space and international Space