This is chapter 2 of the State of Environmental Science in Svalbard (SESS) report 2018 (https://sios-svalbard.org/SESS_Issue1). 1. Existing monitoring data Fluxes of climate-active gases are currently being measured at specific field locations in Svalbard. These data are being used to represent the Arctic in the world-wide flux data sets that are incorporated into global climate change models. To the best of our knowledge, none of the fluxes currently being measured derive from contemporary microbial metabolism. 2. How can the data be used in a SIOS context? SIOS offers a unique opportunity to use this information to develop a comprehensive picture of the manner and extent to which microorganisms in the Arctic influence climate processes and how they change over time. 3. What are the gaps in our knowledge? The role of microorganisms in the production and destruction of climate active gases is not entirely clear. There is currently a pressing need to understand and monitor changes in the abundance, diversity and – particularly – the ecological function of microbial communities in the polar regions in order to produce more accurate greenhouse gas release models.