Improving coordination, visibility and impact of European GEOSS contributions by establishing a EUropean GEo NEtwork

About GEO and GEOSS

In consequence of the resolutions of the G8 summit in Evian in June 2003 to promote international cooperation in the field of earth observation, the first "Earth Observation Summit" (EOS) took place in Washington D.C. on July 31st, 2003. Upon invitation of the US government high-level representatives from more than 30 states as well as international organisations met, in order to discuss the establishment of a globally coordinated earth observation system. A declaration called for support of the following points:

• Improved coordination of strategies and systems for observations of the Earth and identification of measures to minimise data gaps, with a view to moving toward a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Earth observation system of systems;
• A coordinated effort to involve and assist developing countries in improving and sustaining their contributions to observing systems, as well as their access to and effective utilisation of observations, data and products, and the related technologies by addressing capacity-building needs related to Earth observations;
• The exchange of observations recorded from in situ, aircraft, and satellite networks, in a full and open manner with minimum time delay and minimum cost, recognizing relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation; and
• Preparation of a 10-year Implementation Plan, building on existing systems and initiatives.

In consequence an international working group (ad hoc Group on Earth Observations) was established to coordinate the basic documents to GEOSS. As intermediate step, a framework document was accepted on the 2nd Earth Observation Summit on 25 April 2004 in Tokyo.

The GEOSS Ten-Year Implementation Plan was finally adopted at the 3rd Earth Observation Summit on 16 February 2005 in Brussels.

Now since the first plenary in May 2005 the intergovernmental forum "Group on Earth Observations" (GEO) brings together governments and relevant international organisations for the coordination of their earth observation activities on a voluntary basis and promotes the establishment of GEOSS. An executive committee steers the activities between the annual plenaries. For administrative support a GEO Secretariat was established, hosted by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Geneva.

The third GEO Plenary at Bonn in November 2006 adopted the 2007-2009 GEO work plan that specifies 72 tasks in nine Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) and four cross-cutting themes. This work plan is considered a "living document" and is updated annually in an expert review procedure.

Ministers of the GEO Members met in Cape Town (South Africa) following the fourth GEO Plenary in November 2007. They welcomed the progress of GEO and adopted the Cape Town Declaration, which reaffirms the commitment to GEO and its objectives.

The fifth GEO Plenary (Bucharest, November 2008) adopted a new GEO Work Plan for 2009-2011. This new Work Plan contains 42 overarching Tasks and aims at developing cross-coordination between related activities. As the previous work plan, this work plan is considered a "living document" and is updated annually in an expert review procedure.

At the sixth GEO Plenary (Washington D.C., November 2009) GEO has grown to an intergovernmental group of 80 member states plus E.C. and 58 participating organisations. A new Strategic Targets document was accepted, which complements the GEOSS 10-year Implementation Plan. The next Plenary (GEO-VII) was announced to take place in Peking, November 2010, followed by a GEO Ministerial Summit.

GEO Website  ::  Cape Town Declaration  ::  GEOSS Ten-Year Implementation Plan  ::  GEO 2009-2011 Work Plan  ::  GEOSS Strategic Targets Document  ::  European Contributions