The special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the impact of global warming of 1.5C underpinned the roles of GCOS. Observations of emissions and atmospheric composition and the way GCOS can contribute to these observations play an important role in guiding policy which is important for mitigation. Observations also provide the underpinning of climate services and are crucial for the delivery of better information for public service and political decisions. Space agencies have responded to the GCOS Implementation Plan (IP) and the joint CEOS-CGMS Working Group on Climate (WGClimate), of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites and the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, has developed a plan to respond to the space related actions in the IP, ensuring a long term commitment to GCOS goals. The chairman stressed that efforts to improve general public awareness of climate and communication has improved, and gave as an example that the climate indicators identified by GCOS are strongly supported.