Statement to WSSD Summit


 
 
 
 
Madame Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

The decisions which will be taken at this Summit and the policies and Conventions which may ensue will have to be supported by the best information available on the state and the changing nature of planet Earth. We therefore need to ensure the availability of the technical means to acquire all possible information to improve our knowledge of the planet which is our home.
 
Earlier this week we have been informed of the deterioration in some local systems for the collection of in situ data on our environment. It is, therefore, doubly important that space agencies worldwide continue the acquisition from Earth observing satellites and, ensure, more importantly, the wide distribution of data and information.

Indeed, this information must not be monopolised by any one geopolitical block but must be collected on behalf of all and made available to all. To paraphrase President Thabo Mbeki, there should be no global apartheid in space and we, as the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, can pledge to the Summit that such information will be accessible by all.

I would like to further elaborate on the Statement, which was made on behalf of CEOS at previous PrepCom meetings in relation to the contribution of advanced technologies such as Earth observation satellites to Sustainable Development.

I wish to repeat a single sentence from the PrepCom II statement of CEOS, namely that: There is no sustainable development without adequate information about the state of the Earth and its environment.

The acknowledgement of the crucial role played by Earth observation reflects the major progress accomplished since Rio – thanks to the development of a new generation of Earth observation satellites with improved performance and the integration of space-based and in situ observing systems, in order to provide new capabilities and a cost-effective overall mix of observations to meet user needs.

In particular the IGOS (Integrated Global Observing Strategy) Partnership, proposed as a Type II partnership, which brings together the major organisations responsible for space and terrestrial observation of the Earth environment, is making significant contributions in this area.

I would also like to highlight a Type-2 Partnership, coordinated by CEOS, Earth Observation Education and Training”. The intent is to:

  • highlight capacity building in the use of satellite data for sustainable development purposes;
  • increase awareness, particularly among developing countries, of the respective training programmes, and
  • facilitate coordination among CEOS agencies to provide instructors, materials and technology transfer when possible.

CEOS is committed to assist in raising awareness of the value of Earth observation satellite data and equipping developing countries with the knowledge necessary to benefit from key applications.
 
 
 Recommendations
  
The Delegates to the World Summit on Sustainable Development are invited to:

  • REAFFIRM the high importance of satellite Earth observation in providing valuable and, in some cases, unique information in support of Sustainable Development;
  • PROVIDE international support to further develop the transfer of technology and capacity building required for decision-making in support of Sustainable Development in developing countries;
  • ENCOURAGE and PROMOTE international and regional cooperation for education on practical applications and benefits of satellite Earth observations for developing countries;
  • RECOGNISE the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) as the technical focal point for the implementation of actions related to Earth observation following from WSSD and as a primary source of information for the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in its overall coordination responsibility. This coordination will also be done in close liaison with the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
  • ENCOURAGE strengthened partnerships between observation planners and international treaties of relevance to Sustainable Development – to ensure that future observation programmes reflect the information needs of users for every day management and protection of the developing world.

In order to synthesize the many wordings in the current Plan of Implementation which specifically mention Earth observation in the various chapters of the text, CEOS would like to propose the following single paragraph as a critical element of the Political Declaration:

“We reaffirm the need for timely, quality, long-term global information as a basis for sound decision making. We, therefore, recognise the need for integrating satellite measurements with ground information to better understand the Earth and contribute to protecting its environment for future generations.”

This paragraph, Madame Chair, has been carefully drafted and agreed by the CEOS Members. We therefore, hope that this proposal finds your and the Delegates consent.

Thank you, Madame Chair
 
 
  
Last update: 3 September 2002


Related links

 •  CEOS (http://www.ceos.org)
 •  IGOS (http://ioc.unesco.org/igospartners)