European Commission seeks global collaboration on earth observation in summit

[News_Editor]

European Commission seeks global collaboration on earth observation in summit

2010-11-04 21:38:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Ministerial Summit in Beijing will be reviewing progress in the building of a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), the European Unions said Thursday.

GEO - established in 2005 - is a high-profile and growing partnership made up of 83 governments and the European Commission, with the active participation of 58 international organizations. It leads a global effort to create GEOSS within the next ten years in order to provide better information for decision-makers in the realms of the environment, climate and sustainable development.

The aim is to address priorities in the areas of natural and human-induced disasters, agriculture and desertification, human health and well-being, energy resources, climate variability and change, water cycle, weather, ecosystems and biodiversity. Three countries (China, South Africa and the United States) co-chair the Summit alongside the European Commission.

"The putting into place of GEOSS will provide valuable information for people across the globe and help tackle challenges such as natural disasters, desertification, climate change, and issues related to human health, ecosystems and biodiversity," said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship.

"In order for effective observation to be possible, collaboration between nations across the globe is essential. By co-chairing this Ministerial Summit, the Commission aims at strengthening such global and constructive collaboration," Tajani added.

GEOSS will provide comprehensive and coordinated earth observations from thousands of instruments worldwide and transform the data they collect into vital information for society.

The European Commission supports the GEO through the RTD Framework Program, providing some €20 million ($28.45 million) to this initiative annually.

In parallel to the Summit, Vice-President Tajani will meet bilaterally the three co-chairs: the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, Wan Gang; U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior, David J. Hayes; and South African Minister for Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor.

They are expected to contribute to their ongoing dialogs on space matter and cooperation.

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