The GCP integrates atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial and human dimension aspects of the carbon cycle into its research agendas, with commitment and balanced input from the Global Environmental Change Programmes. It has developed an international framework for carbon research and investigates system-wide questions of interactions between humans and the carbon cycle. National and regional studies contribute to the implementation of the project.The project focuses on the human-environment system as a single, highly linked and interactive system that drives the dynamics of the carbon cycle. The goal is to understand the underlying mechanisms and feedbacks that control the carbon cycle; explain the current patterns of sources and sinks; and develop plausible trajectories of the behaviour of the carbon cycle into the future. The ultimate target of the project is to provide societies with a significantly enhanced scientific knowledge of the global carbon cycle on which to base policy debate and action.The Scientific Steering Committee develops research foci. Coordination is provided by International Project Offices located in the USA, Australia, Japan and Europe. For more information on the Global Carbon Project go to: www.globalcarbonproject.org

ESSP Joint Project

Currently in Implementation