Article 2 Tasks and activities
United Kingdom
The principal task of ICOS ERIC shall be to establish a distributed Integrated Carbon Observation System Research Infrastructure (ICOS RI) and to coordinate the operations of ICOS RI, distribute information from ICOS RI to user communities and to establish integrated data and analysis from GHG observation systems.
ICOS ERIC shall provide effective access to coherent and precise data to facilitate research into multi-scale analysis of GHG emissions, sinks and their driving processes by making available measurement protocols, long-term data and data products. Technological developments and demonstrations, related to GHGs, shall be promoted by the linking of research, education and innovation. To this end ICOS ERIC shall undertake and coordinate activities, including but not limited to:
quantification of GHG atmospheric concentrations and terrestrial and oceanic fluxes over Europe and key regions of European interest, including the North Atlantic Ocean;
facilitation of European research programmes and projects;
contribution to the mobility of knowledge and/or researchers within the European Research Area (ERA) and increasing the use of intellectual potential throughout Europe;
coordination and support of development of technology and protocols for high-quality and cost-efficient measurements of GHG concentrations and fluxes also to be promoted beyond Europe;
contribution of timely information relevant to the GHG policy and decision-making;
facilitation of the analysis of carbon sequestration and/or GHG emission reduction activities on global atmospheric composition levels, including the attribution of sources and sinks by geographical regions and activity sectors;
facilitation of the aims of the ICOS RI to establish a template for the future development of similar integrated and operative GHG observation networks beyond Europe;
scientific and management evaluation of the activities, the strategic orientation and operation of all components of ICOS RI by external evaluators.
ICOS ERIC shall be operated on a non-economic basis. In order to further promote innovation as well as transfer of knowledge and technology, limited economic activities may be carried out provided that they are closely related to its principal task and that they do not jeopardise the achievement thereof.