# Presentation: 281704

## Earth Observation Summit

*July 31, 2003*
- Loy Henderson Room
- U.S. Department of State
- _[www.earthobservationsummit.gov](http://www.earthobservationsummit.gov/)_

## Earth Observation Summit

- The Summit will be held July 31st to bring together ministers** **from around the world to commit to establishing a comprehensive, integrated and sustained Earth Observation System
- Current US and foreign investments have given us unprecedented global views of the Earth as a complex interacting system
- However, a demand remains for a **comprehensive, international system** that sifts data from around the world in an **integrated and sustained manner**
- In order to **achieve seamless acquisition** and **long-term** **storage** of data, critical data gaps must be filled

## Earth Observation Summit

- Collection of data in an integrated and sustained manner from our global partners worldwide will afford a **wide range of societal benefits**.
**Applications** of such a system are varied and numerous, including:
**Natural resource management**
**Geologic (non-living)**
**Biologic (living)**
**Natural and anthropogenic hazard prediction and mitigation**
**Sound science for climate policy development**
**Global transportation safety and efficiency**

## Earth Observation Summit

_**Confirmed Participants  –  USG**_
**Co-Hosts****	**	Donald L. Evans, Secretary of Commerce
- 		Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy
- 		Colin Powell, Secretary of State
**Speakers **	John H. Marburger, III, Science Advisor to the President
- 		James Connaughton, Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality
- 		Sean O’Keefe, Administrator, NASA
- 		Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Administrator, NOAA
- 		Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
- 		Rita R. Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation
- 		James R. Mahoney, Director, Climate Change Science Program
- 		Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior
- 		Joseph Jen, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, 				Education and Economics
- 		Jeffrey N. Shane, Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy

**Notes:**
Also invited:
Interior Secretary Gale Norton
EPA Administrator Christine Whitman (Acting Administrator Linda Fisher after June 28?)
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman
Secretary of State Colin Powell

## Earth Observation Summit

_**Ministerial Response**_
_**Statements of Intent (7)**_**:**
- 	Korea,The Netherlands, Morocco,Sweden, Germany, Argentina, Spain
_**Confirmations (19):**_**	**
- 	France, Thailand, Russia, Canada, Italy, Japan, India, Israel, Switzerland, Norway, South Africa, Australia, Congo, United Kingdom, European Union, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Gabon

**Notes:**
At the WMO last week, Sweden expressed interest in attending, and requested an invitation.
The invitation was sent via State Department Cable earlier this week.

## Earth Observation Summit

| Confirmed Participants  –  Multilateral Organizations
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership (IGOS)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP)
Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS)
EUMETSAT
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
European Space Agency (ESA)
International Council for Science (ICSU)
International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
World Bank
United Nations Environment Programme
The Global Environment Facility

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**Notes:**
Robust response from international organizations with interest in observations

## Earth Observation Summit

**Intergovernmental Ad Hoc Working Group**
**Inaugural Meeting – August 1, 2003**
**Purpose**: To prepare a 10-year implementation plan for an international, comprehensive, integrated and sustained Earth observation system
**Membership**: One government representative from each of the participating countries
**Meetings:** To be scheduled to coincide with currently planned meetings related to observations and observing systems
**Expected Outcomes of the Inaugural Meeting**:
-         Reach agreement on the Terms of Reference;
-         Identify a work plan and schedule for preparing a preliminary conceptual 	plan by Spring of 2004; and
-         Reach agreement on a framework for the 10-year 	implementation plan.

**Notes:**
Purpose – decadal plan for Earth Observation System of the future that benefits the entire globe
Membership – Each country attending the Summit has been asked to name a representative to the working group.
(note:  USG representative has not yet been named – this is worth noting because other countries will not name their representatives until they see the level of representation of the USG rep.)
Meetings – will coincide with already scheduled meetings dealing with environmental issues
For example, the Russian Climate Meeting in the Fall of ’03; COP-9 in Milan in Winter of ’03; the Japanese Earth Obs Summit in Spring of ’04.

## Earth Observation Summit

- Updates
-  Excellent press coverage in recent weeks
*Financial Times* article *(attached)*
*Wall Street Journal* article *(attached)*
-  Good response during European trip
- EUMETSAT / IOC meetings
- France / UK meetings
-  VADM appointed by WH last week to be USG 	representative to Intergovernmental *ad hoc **	*Working Group

**Notes:**
There is concern that we are getting the documents to our foreign partners too late in the game.
It would be desirable to be able to disseminate the draft Terms of Reference, the draft Concept Paper, and the draft Agenda for the working group at the SBSTA meeting next week.
NOAA has developed an internal strategy for promoting the Summit and is working with sister agencies to coordinate messages
Planning continues on developing our vision (conceptual plan) to be ready by the time of the Japanese Summit, and the decadal plan, which will outline the more comprehensive framework for implementation.
Earth Observation Task Group meeting here this afternoon – 
[recognize Ghassem – would he like to add anything?]