South Africa

1
South Africas hosting of the Third Meeting of
the Group on Earth Observations (GEO-3)

• Daan du Toit
• Manager Strategic Partnerships
• Department of
• Science and Technology

2
GEO a unique global partnership

• GEO is a dynamic global partnership formed to
  develop a new comprehensive, coordinated and
  sustainable Earth Observation System to support
  decision-making for sustainable development
• SA co-chairs the GEO with the European
  Commission, Japan and the United States
• SA will host 3rd Meeting from 23-27 February 2004
  in Cape Town
• High-profile international event approximately
  200 senior international delegates attending

3
Overview of Presentation

• Need for GEO
• Founding of GEO
• SAs election as GEO Co-Chair
• 3rd Meeting of the GEO

4
Need for GEO

• Need for optimal Earth observation capacities to
  provide data for informed decision-making,
  eliminating high costs of uncertainty
• Earth observations satellite, airborne,
  terrestrial or airborne based observations of
  geophysical parameters e.g. precipitation, soil
  moisture or salinity of oceans
• Earth observations proven its worth in estimating
  crop yields, monitoring water and air quality,
  improving airline safety, predicting weather
• Earth observation data inform policy-making for
  e.g. with regard to droughts, floods, fires,
  disease or transport / energy challenges

5
Founding of GEO

• Established at Earth Observation Summit held in
  Washington, D.C. in July 2003 to consider
  response to WSSD commitments with regard to Earth
  Observation
• 34 participating nations committed to intensify
  international collaboration in Earth observation
• Signed Washington Declaration

6
Washington Declaration

• Enhancing international coordination of national
  Earth observation systems and strategies
• Addressing Earth observation capacity-building
  needs of developing countries
• Improving the international exchange of data
  recorded from earth observations
• Preparing a ten-year Implementation Plan for the
  development of a new comprehensive, coordinated
  and sustainable global Earth observation system

7
Founding of GEO (2)

• Washington Summit
• Established and mandated GEO to develop ten-year
  Implementation Plan before the end of 2004
• Request GEO to submit to Second Earth Observation
  Summit to be held in Tokyo in April 2004 a
  Framework Document serving as outline for the
  detailed Implementation Plan

8
South Africas election as Co-Chair

• SA elected at Washington Summit by developing
  country members as Co-Chair representative
• Cabinet in October 2003 approved designation of
  Dr Rob Adam, Director-General of the DST as SAs
  representative for position of Co-Chair
• Opportunity for SA continue leading contribution
  to implementation of WSSD Johannesburg Plan of
  Implementation

9
Priorities for SA as Co-Chair

• Promote interests of developing countries
• Capacity-building expertise and infrastructure
• Access at minimum and affordable cost to Earth
  observation data
• Broaden GEO membership to include more
  developing, especially African countries

10
Strategic opportunity

• Advance implementation of NEPAD science and
  technology and environment programmes
• Build relationships and partnerships with other
  Co-Chairs
• Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, the United
  States Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and
  Atmosphere
• Mr Akio Yuki, Japans Deputy Minister of
  Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
  Technology
• Mr Achilleas Mitsos, Director-General of the
  European Commissions Directorate-General
  Research

11
3rd Meeting of the GEO

• 1st Washington, D.C. in July 2003
• 2nd Baveno, Italy in November 2003 (progress
  review)
• Objectives of 3rd meeting
• Reach consensus on GEO Framework Document
• Decide on modalities for preparation of detailed
  Implementation Plan

12
GEO-3 Programme

• Venue Cape Town International Convention Centre
• 23-24 February 2004 Working Sessions GEO
  Secretariat and Expert Subgroups (Capacity
  Building, International Cooperation,
  Architecture, Data Utilisation, User
  Requirements)
• 25-27 February 2004 GEO-3 plenary meeting
• SA organisation DST, DEAT, DWAF, DFA, SAWS,
  CSIR-SAC, etc.

13
Conclusion

• Portfolio Committee will be kept informed of
  progress and outcomes of GEO-3
• Objective GEO to enable a rapid, concrete
  improvement in the quality of living of citizens
• GEO Truly global partnership impact of
  phenomena such as El Nino spans all borders
• Public awareness and understanding on the
  importance of Earth observation will be promoted.
• Thank you