Key Scientific and Technical Issues in Earth System Science Towards Achieving Carbon Neutrality in China

The carbon neutrality strategy will be the largest orderly human activity in this century, which requires strong scientific supports. This study introduces some key scientific questions and remaining knowledge gaps in earth system science (i.e. atmosphere, land, ocean science), and also discusses some key techniques and the associated challenges, including Earth System Model, climate metrics, greenhouse gasses monitoring techniques, carbon inventories from regional to global scales. On this basis, this study recommends to construct climate monitoring system and platform in China, better describe and understand the earth system coupling processes and mechanisms. To consolidate the techniques for carbon neutrality, this study also suggests to build carbon monitoring and inventory assessment platform and to improve the Earth System Model.