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Volume 4 - 9
| Contents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 9. Group On Earth Observations Partnership Flourishes By Daan du Toit   Hard at work…. Dr Rob Adam,
Director-General for the Department of Science and Technology and GEO
co-chair, together with his counterpart Dr Achilleas Mitsos, Director
General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General: Research.
Earth observation comprises all observations of geophysical parameters (such as precipitation, soil moisture or ocean salinity) made from space, airborne, terrestrial or ocean-based platforms, which tell us about the state of well-being of our planet. By providing such data and information products, Earth observation serves as a valuable tool to inform policymaking. There are several examples of GEO's application, such as estimating crop yields, monitoring water and air quality, improving airline safety and weather prediction. Earth observation products and services can enhance programmes to combat disasters such as droughts, fires, floods or volcanic eruptions or the spread of disease, as well as initiatives to address transport and energy challenges. GEO is an international partnership consisting of 44 member countries and 26 participating organisations, established at the Earth Observation Summit held in the US in July 2003. The partnership's specific objective is to meet to develop an implementation plan for the creation of a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable global Earth observation system before the end of 2004. In February 2004 the GEO meeting was held and co-chaired by Dr Rob Adam, the DST's Director-General. The GEO is proposing to create a new Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) that will considerably strengthen international Earth observation capacity by, for example, enhancing co-ordination and interoperability (such as data exchanges) between existing national and regional observation systems and by specifically focusing on the needs of developing countries. At the GEO's founding meeting, South Africa was elected as one of the partnership's four cochairs alongside the US, Japan and the European Commission. The South African Cabinet subsequently designated Dr Rob Adam as the country's representative, in the position of Co Chair. Dr Adam's counterparts are: Vice-Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, the US Under-Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Dr Akio Yuki, Japan's Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; and Dr Achilleas Mitsos, the European Commission's Director General for Research.  Deliberating to reach
consensus………… Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, the United States’
Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Dr Akio Yuki,
Japan’s Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology at the GEO meeting. As one of the GEO Co-Chairs, South Africa's specific responsibility is to represent the interests of the GEO's developing country and emerging economy members. Within this context, South Africa has been broadening GEO membership to include more developing African countries; promoting capacity-building initiatives for developing countries, especially with regard to infrastructure and human capital; and ensuring the availability of Earth observation data to developing countries at affordable rates. Another priority is to align the GEO activities with the NEPAD programmes for science and technology and the environment. The main objective of the South African meeting was to provide the GEO membership with an opportunity to negotiate and reach consensus on the GEO framework document which will Deliberating to reach consensus. Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, the United States’ Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Dr Akio Yuki, Japan’s Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the GEO meeting. provide a basis for the detailed GEOSS implementation plan. Consensus was reached on a framework document which emphasises the urgency of addressing the capacitybuilding needs of developing countries and entrenches the idea of meeting user requirements from a holistic economic, social and environmental perspective. Largely as a result of South Africa’s outreach efforts, the GEO welcomed new developing country members Algeria, Mozambique and Nigeria into its fold during its Cape Town meeting. Although the DST co-ordinates and is the main driving force behind South Africa's participation in the GEO, it has established a strong partnership with sister departments, such as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, as well as organisations such as the South African Weather Service and the CSIR's Satellite Applications Centre. |
Nominations of potential candidates for the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Board of Directors
