Nexus Standards · Programme · Nexus domain
10 areas
Climate, atmosphere, oceans, land and biodiversity are one coupled system: heat, water and carbon move between them, and a shift in one changes the hazard and exposure records of all the others. This programme covers the observation, projection, disclosure and alignment standards that let those records be read together with their provenance intact. Each artifact of these areas carries a UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier).
Nexus Standards (2026). Climate and Earth Systems: a programme of the Nexus Standards. Proposed. https://nexustandards.com/climate/. Last reviewed 17 October 2026.
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10 areas, each with its tier, registry status, the Nexus Standards it lists, the open standards it references, its data sources and its couplings.
Area index5 of 10 areas are listed in the registry; the others are proposed areas with a complete area profile.
The systemic couplings recorded for this context, grouped by transmission mechanism. The bar summarises each mechanism (select one to filter); each entry names the connected area or programme and describes the mechanism.
The interactive view requires JavaScript; the sections below present the same records.
A system model of this programme built from the registry: 26 hazards, 23 systems, 10 sectors, 15 controls, 27 feeds, 18 indicators. Select the components to include, choose an initiating hazard and run the scenario. Stress propagates through the hazard relations of the Nexus Hazard Standard (NHS-1), the exposure of each system, the recorded couplings and the sectors that carry the loss; adopted standards dampen transmission and live data sources support detection. All parameters are stated assumptions that the reader can adjust; results are illustrative scenario outputs for exercises and training, not forecasts or risk assessments. The Map view places the same run on an example geography, Pacific Island states, the region of the programme's context map, with open data: Natural Earth boundaries, an H3 hexagon grid and NASA satellite layers for the initiating hazard. The geography serves exercises and training and is not an assessment of that place.
Hazards
Systems and couplings
Controls
NS-0 Constitution and principlesNS-1 The UNI and the artifact catalog (grammar v0.2: domain, sector, region and environment segments)NS-3 Risk record UNIs (grammar, legacy crosswalk, allocation authority)NS-3b Dataset and product metadata profile (STAC, DCAT, PROV-O)NS-9 Contextual UNIs (deployments, instances, programme instances)NS-11 Verification and monitoring (evidence, attestations, zero-trust conformance observation)NS-14 Conformance and crosswalk to external standardsNS-5 Figure, map and visualization standard (with the UI/UX kit)NS-10 Policies and clauses (machine-readable obligations: definition, binding, evaluation and enforcement)NRS-H65 Hazard family: Planetary boundary transgressions (NHS-1 planet.boundary)NRS-H15 Hazard family: Glacier, ice-sheet and permafrost change (NHS-1 cryo.glacier)NRS-H11 Hazard family: Coastal and sea-level hazards (NHS-1 water.coastal)NRS-H27 Hazard family: Biodiversity and species stress (NHS-1 eco.species)NRS-H26 Hazard family: Land and wetland degradation (NHS-1 eco.land)NRS-H61 Hazard family: Cascading failure (NHS-1 sys.cascade)Observation
Example geography
Open Earth observation layers for pacific islands, an example geography for climate and earth systems. The map provides context only and does not indicate where the standards apply. Layers, dates and credits are shown on the map.
The interactive map needs JavaScript; the layer list and sources are below.
Layers 2
Climate signals
Keyboard, with the map focused
Hold Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll to zoom
Latest available
NASA GIBS / EOSDIS · ASTER GDEM (METI, NASA) · Blue Marble (NASA) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Natural Earth
Loading the latest NASA imagery.
Drag to move. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll, pinch or the buttons to zoom; hover for the values under the pointer; reset returns to the region.
Surface heat, rain, snow, sea ice, marine heat and water storage, each a dated satellite or model product, framed on Pacific Island states.Satellite and model products as NASA publishes them, each with its own date; indicators, not assessments of any place.
Layers and dates
43 couplings link the areas of this programme with 9 other programmes, counted in both directions from the area profiles. Select a card on the diagram to trace a coupling.
Fig.Programmes coupling in at the left, the areas of this programme in the centre and the programmes its areas couple out to at the right; edge labels give the number of couplings.
| Coupled programme | Couplings | Example mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction | 13 | Common driver: warming intensifies heavy rainfall, heatwaves and drought, shifting hazard distributions.Climate risk standards to Hydrometeorological hazard standards |
| Finance, Insurance and the Economy | 8 | Cascade: physical losses and abrupt transition repricing transmit to credit, insurance and sovereign risk.Climate risk standards to Financial and economic risk standards |
| Health and Biosecurity | 6 | Cascade: pollution episodes raise respiratory and cardiovascular admissions and mortality.Atmosphere and air quality risk standards to Health risk standards |
| Water and Food Systems | 5 | Cascade: marine heatwaves and acidification reduce fisheries and aquaculture output.Oceans and coasts risk standards to Food and agriculture risk standards |
| Cities and the Built Environment | 3 | Exposure: coastal cities face compound surge and river flooding.Oceans and coasts risk standards to Cities and urban systems risk standards |
| Industry, Trade and Supply Chains | 3 | Cascade: port closures from surge and storms disrupt global shipping and trade.Oceans and coasts risk standards to Supply chain and trade risk |
| Energy and Critical Infrastructure | 2 | Feedback: transition changes the energy system and its vulnerabilities.Climate adaptation and transition risk to Energy risk standards |
| Systemic Risks | 2 | Tail risk: high-end warming and tipping cascades are catastrophic scenarios.Global catastrophic and existential risk standards to Climate risk standards |
28 data sources named by the areas, each with provider, licence, delivery path and register status.
Data sources are listed for reference; live data is displayed once licence review is complete.
CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) and atmospheric composition forecastsfor reference
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (ECMWF on behalf of the European Union) · daily forecasts; reanalysis updated periodically
CC BY 4.0 (Copernicus Atmosphere Data Store dataset licence); credit: Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information [year]
listed for referencelisted in the data register
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service productsfor reference
Copernicus / European Environment Agency · varies by product
Copernicus full, open and free data policy
governed data servicelisted in the data register
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service productsfor reference
European Environment Agency (Copernicus) · periodic
Copernicus full, free and open data policy
governed data servicelisted in the data register
ERA5 reanalysis (climate hazard baselines)for reference
ECMWF Copernicus Climate Change Service · daily
CC BY 4.0
governed data servicelisted in the data register
ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Data Store)for reference
Copernicus Climate Change Service (ECMWF) · daily, five-day latency
CC BY 4.0
governed data servicelisted in the data register
ESA WorldCover 10 m land coverfor reference
European Space Agency · 2020 and 2021 epochs
CC BY 4.0
governed data servicelisted in the data register
GBIF occurrence APIfor reference
Global Biodiversity Information Facility · continuous
Per dataset: CC0 1.0, CC BY 4.0 or CC BY-NC 4.0
listed for referencelisted in the data register
GBIF occurrence API and downloadsfor reference
Global Biodiversity Information Facility · continuous
Per-dataset CC0, CC BY 4.0 or CC BY-NC 4.0; licence under review
listed for referencelisted in the data register
GEBCO global bathymetric gridfor reference
GEBCO (IHO and IOC-UNESCO) · annual
Public domain
governed data servicelisted in the data register
INFORM Risk Indexfor reference
European Commission JRC · annual with mid-year update
CC BY 4.0 under the Commission reuse policy
governed data servicelisted in the data register
NASA FIRMS active fire detections (MODIS, VIIRS)for reference
NASA LANCE / FIRMS · near real time
NASA Earth science data and information policy (open)
governed data servicelisted in the data register
NGFS Scenario Explorerfor reference
NGFS via IIASA · per scenario phase
Scenario Explorer terms not recorded; licence under review
listed for referencelisted in the data register
World Bank Open Data and World Development Indicators APIfor reference
World Bank · quarterly
CC BY 4.0 for most datasets; licence under review
governed data servicelisted in the data register
World Database on Protected and Conserved Areasfor reference
UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (Protected Planet) · monthly
Protected Planet terms of use (commercial use restricted)
listed for referencelisted in the data register
Argo float profilesfor reference
Argo Program (international) · daily
Freely available; licence to be recorded by Legal
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
CAMS global atmospheric composition forecasts and reanalysisfor reference
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (ECMWF) · twice daily
Copernicus licence (free, full and open; attribution)
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
Climate Watch NDC and emissions datafor reference
World Resources Institute · on update
CC BY 4.0
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
CMIP6 climate projections (Copernicus Climate Data Store)for reference
Copernicus Climate Change Service; WCRP modelling centres · static releases
Per-model terms, mostly CC BY 4.0; to be recorded per model
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
Copernicus Marine Service ocean productsfor reference
Mercator Ocean International (Copernicus Marine) · daily
Copernicus Marine service licence (free and open; attribution)
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
Coral Reef Watch daily 5 km heat stress productsfor reference
NOAA Coral Reef Watch · daily
U.S. Government work, public domain
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
Global Forest Watch tree cover loss (Hansen/UMD) and alertsfor reference
World Resources Institute and University of Maryland · annual and weekly alerts
CC BY 4.0
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
OpenAQ air quality measurements APIfor reference
OpenAQ · hourly
Per-provider licences recorded by OpenAQ; platform terms of use
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
PSMSL tide gauge mean sea level recordsfor reference
Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (National Oceanography Centre) · monthly
PSMSL data policy (free with citation); licence to be recorded by Legal
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
SoilGrids 2.0 global soil property mapsfor reference
ISRIC - World Soil Information · static release
CC BY 4.0
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
UN SDG Global Database API (indicators 15.1.1, 12.4.1)for reference
UN Statistics Division · annual
United Nations terms of use (non-commercial unless the portal states otherwise)
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
UN SDG Global Database API (indicators 15.1.1, 15.1.2, 15.5.1)for reference
UN Statistics Division · annual
United Nations terms of use (non-commercial unless the portal states otherwise)
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
UNFCCC NDC registryfor reference
UNFCCC secretariat · on submission
UNFCCC terms of use (public documents; attribution)
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
World Environment Situation Roomfor reference
UN Environment Programme · varies
UNEP terms of use (to be confirmed)
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
9 Nexus Standards across 10 areas.
Applicable Nexus StandardsA filled cell indicates that the area profile lists the Nexus Standard concerned.
17 indicators named by the areas, each with its framework and code.
Indicator names and codes are given as published by their stewards.
What each institution of the ecosystem draws from these areas: GCRI Canada, as Secretariat, for evidence; The Global Risks Forum (GRF) for recognition; and The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) for capital.
Climate risk standards · GCRI Canada may accept scenario and model records that name model versions, ensemble members and bias-correction methods as research evidence; the decision rests with GCRI Canada under its own evidence and research…
Atmosphere and air quality risk standards · GCRI Canada may accept air-quality records that carry sensor type, calibration and correction lineage as research evidence; the decision rests with GCRI Canada under its own evidence and research rules.
Oceans and coasts risk standards · GCRI Canada may accept sea-level and marine-heat records that state vertical datum, instrument and processing level as research evidence; the decision rests with GCRI Canada under its own evidence and research rules.
7 further areas set out what this pathway draws on; each area brief gives its own statement.
Climate risk standards · GRF may record institutions that disclose on the shared scenario records as part of a recognition dialogue; the decision rests with GRF under its own recognition rules.
Atmosphere and air quality risk standards · GRF may record cities and agencies that publish calibrated sensor networks on the shared records as a dialogue item; the decision rests with GRF under its own recognition rules.
Oceans and coasts risk standards · GRF may record port and coastal authorities adopting the shared records as part of a coastal resilience dialogue; the decision rests with GRF under its own recognition rules.
7 further areas set out what this pathway draws on; each area brief gives its own statement.
Climate risk standards · GRA may read physical and transition-risk records with stated uncertainty when it assesses climate exposure of projects; the decision rests with GRA under its own capital-readiness rules.
Atmosphere and air quality risk standards · GRA may read exposure records when it considers clean-air and health investments; the decision rests with GRA under its own capital-readiness rules.
Oceans and coasts risk standards · GRA may read coastal exposure and projection records with uncertainty when it reviews coastal infrastructure finance; the decision rests with GRA under its own capital-readiness rules.
7 further areas set out what this pathway draws on; each area brief gives its own statement.
Each institution determines under its own rules what it accepts as evidence; a pathway reading is neither an approval nor investment advice.
10 proposed charters, one per area, each with a scope, deliverables and liaison targets. Institutions and experts are invited to charter a working group; a liaison is listed as sought until the issuing body confirms it in writing.
| Area | Working group scope | Deliverables | Liaison sought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate risk standards | Scenario, model-run and physical-risk records with explicit uncertainty and disclosure crosswalks. | 3 | 4WCRP, IPCC Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments, NGFS, Copernicus Climate Change Service |
| Atmosphere and air quality risk standards | Records for air-quality observation, sensor calibration and exposure that combine reference and low-cost data with transparent quality flags. | 3 | 4WMO Global Atmosphere Watch, WHO air quality and health unit, OpenAQ community, UNEP Climate and Clean Air Coalition |
| Oceans and coasts risk standards | Records for sea level, surge, marine heat and coastal exposure with explicit datum and uncertainty statements. | 3 | 4IOC-UNESCO, Global Ocean Observing System, WMO-IOC Joint Collaborative Board, Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level |
| Land and soil risk standards | Records for land cover, soil properties and degradation baselines that support SDG 15.3.1 reporting and restoration monitoring. | 3 | 4UNCCD Science-Policy Interface, FAO Global Soil Partnership, GEO Land Degradation Neutrality initiative, ISRIC - World… |
| Biodiversity and nature risk standards | Records for ecosystem condition, species observations and nature dependency that crosswalk disclosure frameworks without reproducing them. | 3 | 4TDWG, GEO BON, UNEP-WCMC, UN Statistics Division SEEA team |
| Environmental degradation hazard standards | Records for slow-onset degradation with baselines, thresholds and uncertainty. | 3 | 4UNEP, UNCCD, GEO BON, European Environment Agency |
| Climate adaptation and transition risk | Records for adaptation pathways and transition plans with scenario provenance and monitoring. | 3 | 4UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, NGFS, Global Center on Adaptation, IPCC Working Group II Technical Support Unit |
| Paris Agreement and NDC alignment | Maintain the Paris crosswalk, NDC record profile and adaptation indicator bindings, tracking decisions of the Conference of the Parties. | 3 | 3UNFCCC secretariat (information exchange sought), IPCC Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments… |
| Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework alignment | Maintain the GBF crosswalk, area-based record profile and licence-aware handling of biodiversity data. | 3 | 3CBD secretariat (information exchange sought), GBIF secretariat (information exchange on occurrence data profiles… |
| UNEP and the environment | Describe UNEP's assessments and data accurately and develop licence-aware environmental risk profiles. | 2 | 2UN Environment Programme Science Division (information exchange sought), UNEP-WCMC (information exchange on dataset… |
Select an area above, adopt its proposed charter and submit it as a public change record under NS-13; the editors decide with written reasons. Develop a standard
Propose an amendment to an area profile, citing a peer-reviewed or official source.
Propose a source with its provider, licence and delivery path for licence review.
Each participating country takes part through its National Nexus Consortium (NNC). The National Standards Council (NSC) decides adoption, adaptation or reference in its jurisdiction, and National Working Groups (NWGs) draft national inputs and run field exercises. Competent national authorities are engaged through official channels.
Contributions to an external standard are made through the issuing body's own channels; outcomes are reflected here as register changes. Movement and contribution
37 references from peer-reviewed and official publications cited in the area profiles, most recent first within each type.
GCRI Canada, The Global Risks Forum (GRF), The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) and Risk Academy work on the subject of this programme in distinct roles (research and evidence; governance, policy and convening; capital, finance and markets; education and training). Each entry states why it corresponds and the step it offers; each institution sets its own terms of participation.
Research and evidence
GCRI Canada
Research programmes that produce the observations, models and assessments these records describe.
Climate and HazardsProduces climate baselines, projections and compound-hazard evidence with stated confidence, the inputs that climate risk records identify and cite.Apply to this programme Biodiversity NexusAssesses ecosystem condition and the nature-related risks it creates, the evidence base for biodiversity and land records.Apply to this programme Oceans and CoastsStudies sea level, marine ecosystems and coastal exposure where ocean change meets settlement and trade.Apply to this programme therisk.globalAll programmes of GCRI CanadaGovernance, policy and convening
The Global Risks Forum (GRF)
Tracks that convene public authorities, researchers and institutions on the governance of shared risks.
Climate and Nature GovernanceConvenes environment agencies and regional bodies on climate risk governance, adaptation institutions and nature law.Join this track Policy NexusCompares climate and adaptation policy across jurisdictions and learns from implementation.Join this track globalriskforum.comAll tracks of The Global Risks ForumCapital, finance and markets
The Global Risks Alliance (GRA)
Industry programmes in which financial institutions build a shared understanding of systemic risk.
Climate and Nature Financial RiskExamines how physical, transition and nature risks reach banks, insurers and investors, and the scenario methods used to assess them.Join this programme Reinsurance and CatastropheWorks on how climate-driven hazards become insured losses and where protection is missing.Join this programme globalriskalliance.comAll programmes of The Global Risks AllianceEducation and training
Risk Academy
Courses and disciplines that teach the knowledge and methods practitioners need to apply these standards.
Biodiversity and EcosystemsRAF-104 · Introductory · 21.5 learning hoursNature as risk, nature as infrastructure, and nature in financial decisionsTake this course Just TransitionRAF-105 · Introductory · 20.5 learning hoursSharing the costs and benefits of the shift to a low-carbon economy fairlyTake this course Scenario GrammarRAS-402 · Intermediate · 28.5 learning hoursForesight, drivers and scenario matrices for strategy and stress testing under uncertaintyTake this course All courses and disciplinesListed in the education and training section of this page5 courses and 6 disciplines of Risk Academy (risksacademy.com) that teach the knowledge and methods of this programme. Each course lists its level, stream and learning hours.
The correspondence between courses, disciplines and the Nexus Standards is maintained with Risk Academy and is subject to its academic review.
Nexus Reports is the Consortium's quarterly publication. What you know about this subject can become evidence, a case or a correction in the next edition, credited to you and published under CC BY 4.0 where it is your own work.
Never send personal data, sensitive infrastructure detail or anything you have no right to share. A contribution is reviewed before use; sending it confers no authorship or editorial rights, and sponsorship never buys a finding.
Institutions and experts are invited to charter a working group, amend an area brief or propose a data source. National participation is organised through each country's National Nexus Consortium (NNC) and its National Working Groups (NWGs); competent national authorities are engaged through official channels.
Status and use. The Nexus Standards are proposed standards developed through an open process under NS-13 and published for voluntary use; they do not constitute certification, accreditation or regulatory approval, and adoption remains a decision of the Global Standards Council and, in each country, of its National Standards Council. A UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier) identifies an artifact; it does not certify it. Names of standards bodies and their standards belong to their stewards and are used only to identify the documents; no text of an external standard is reproduced here. Nexus Standards is not affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by any standards body named here.
Licences: CC BY 4.0 for standards text, registries, schemas and data; Apache-2.0 for reference code. External standards are cited by name, number and link under their own licences. Third-party data, libraries and fonts keep their own licences: see Third-party notices.