Satellite-based global maps are rarely used in forest reference levels submitted to the UNFCCC

Abstract

The Earth observation (EO) community is coordinating a range of activities in support of the Global Stocktake. One objective is to enhance the uptake of satellite-based global-scale maps (hereafter ‘EO products’) in national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). To measure progress towards this objective, we compile information on the use of EO products on land cover, fire, and above-ground biomass to derive carbon flux estimates in forest reference levels from 56 tropical countries submitted to the UNFCCC between 2014-2022. The global forest change (GFC) was the only EO product used to measure land extent and change, and was used by almost half the countries. Only two countries used existing EO products for fire mapping. Four countries used biomass maps, although only indirectly, such as for comparing with biomass estimates from field plot measurements or with IPCC defaults. The uptake is limited but improved the measurement, reporting and verification capacity of 22 countries. The relatively high uptake of the GFC demonstrates the importance of meeting essential conditions in the IPCC guidance when developing EO products, including conditions on spatial and temporal resolution, temporal coverage and consistency, and the flexibility to adapt to biophysical thresholds in national definitions. The limited use of other global land EO products underlines the need for developers of EO products to interact with groups responsible for GHG inventories and experts familiar with IPCC guidance so that their products are suitable for national reporting, and thus contribute to more complete aggregated estimates in the Global Stocktake. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.