1. Activities Update October 2003 ad hoc Group on Earth Observations (GEO) GEO Brief Version 1 - 2003-10-21

2. Earth Observation Elements Ocean Health Land Ecosystems Disasters Atmosphere Climate Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

3. The Earth Observation Summit Washington DC, July 31, 2003 The Summit represented a high level governmental/political commitment to move toward a comprehensive, coordinated, global network: Issued declaration to support this concept Launched development of 10-year implementation plan Established the ad hoc intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) with 4 Co-Chairs: 1) U.S. – Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., Administrator National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2) EC – Director General Achilleas Mitsos Directorate General for Research 3) Japan – Mr. Akio Yuki, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) 4) South Africa – Dr. Rob Adam, Director-General, Department of Science and Technology Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

4. EO Summit Declaration Affirmed need for timely, quality, long-term, global information as a basis for sound decision making. Recognized need to support: 1) Comprehensive, coordinated, sustained Earth observation system or systems; 2) Coordinated effort to address capacity-building needs related to Earth obs; 3) Exchange of observations in a full and open manner with minimum time delay and minimum cost; and 4) Preparation of a 10-year Implementation Plan, building on existing systems and initiatives 1) Framework for Tokyo ministerial, April or May 2004 2) 10-year plan for Brussels ministerial in late 2004. Established ad hoc Group on Earth Observations (GEO) to develop Plan Invited other governments to join. Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

5. Earth Observation Summit Participants U.S. Department of State, Washington DC July 31, 2003 Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

6. Member Governments Argentina Australia Belize Brazil Canada China Denmark Egypt European Commission France Gabon Germany India Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kazakhstan Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Republic of Congo Republic of Korea Russian Federation South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Ukraine United Kingdom United States Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

7. Participating International Organizations Central American Commission for the Environment and Development (SICA/CCAD) Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) European Space Agency (ESA) European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership (IGOS-P) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) International Agency for the Development of Environmental Information (ADIE) International Council for Science (ICSU) International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) World Bank (IBRD) World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

8. GEO Profile Membership open to all countries – Others engaged since GEO-1: Cyprus, Belgium, Greece International organizations are Participants – Others engaged since GEO-1: EUMETNET Established 5 subgroups Established GEO Secretariat – hosted by U.S. and comprised of GEO Members and Participants Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

9. GEO Structure GEO US, EC, Japan, South Africa (Co-Chairs) GEO Secretariat (US providing Administrative Secretariat, with support from other countries and international organizations) Capacity Building Subgroup Architecture Subgroup Data Utilization Subgroup International Cooperation Subgroup User Requirements and Outreach Subgroup Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

10. GEO Secretariat Functions GEO Secretariat Secretariat Meeting Coordination Provide for GEO Subgroup Technical expertise Action Tracking among GEO & Subgroups GEO Website Communications For GEO & Subgroups Document Distribution For GEO & Subgroups Organize and Support GEO Meetings Support to GEO Co-Chairs Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

11. GEO Secretariat Membership – EC* – Japan* – South Africa* – United States* – Canada – CEOS – ESA *indicates representatives of GEO co-chairs – EUMETSAT – France – IGOS – IOC – Italy – WMO Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

12. GEO Subgroup Co-Chairs GEO Architecture Subgroup Brazil, France, Japan, United States, WMO, ESA GEO Capacity Building Subgroup Argentina, Belize/CCAD, Brazil, Israel, Republic of Congo, United States GEO Data Utilization Subgroup Brazil, Canada, United States, ECMWF GEO User Requirements Subgroup Canada, Italy, United Kingdom GEO International Cooperation Subgroup Australia, United States, IOC Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

13. Earth Observation Components GEO Subgroups GEO Secretariat International Requirements National Requirements Earth Observation 10-year Implementation Plan GEO Earth Observation Summit II, III Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

14. Framework and Plan Development GEO Members & Participant Organizations provide inputs via Subgroups GEO Subgroups provide draft chapters to the GEO Secretariat GEO Secretariat provides draft I&P chapters and way forward Framework will be basis for 10-year Plan GEO Meetings review and approve draft chapters for Framework and 10-year Plan Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

15. Framework Document Chapters (Sections IV through IX will include relevant Subgroup inputs to the Lead Subgroup for each Chapter) ChapterLead Subgroup I. IntroductionGEO Secretariat II. PurposeGEO Secretariat III. Benefits of GEO InitiativeAll Subgroups IV. User RequirementsUser Requirements Subgroup V. OutreachUser Requirements Subgroup VI. ArchitectureArchitecture Subgroup VII. Data Utilization VIII. Capacity Building IX. International Cooperation Data Utilization Subgroup Capacity Building Subgroup International Cooperation Subgroup X. The Way AheadGEO Secretariat Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

16. GEO II Work review - ITALY - GEO Secretariat Subgroups & Secretariat compose Draft 10-year Plan Subgroups & Secretariat compose Draft Framework Document Earth Obs Summit III GEO delivers Draft 10-year Plan - EUROPE - Draft Framework Document components for GEO II Implementation Plan Development Architecture Subgroup Data Utilization Subgroup Capacity Building Subgroup User Requirements & Outreach Subgroup Intl Cooperation Subgroup Earth Obs Summit I and GEO I - UNITED STATES - Earth Obs Summit II and GEO GEO Delivers Draft Framework Document for approval - JAPAN - GEO Sub-Group Chairs Working Meeting - SOUTH AFRICA - Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations GEO approves Draft 10-year Plan Establishes

17. ASONDJFMAMJJASONDJ Draft Calendar Earth Observation Summit-1 July 31 United States 200320042005 Initial GEO MeetingAugust 1-2 = Document Milestones = GEO Secretariat Meetings =GEO Meetings planned = GEO Meetings notional = Significant Events Complete Framework Document Complete10-Year Implementation Plan Earth Observation Summit-2 Japan Earth Observation Summit-3 Europe GEO-2 Italy November 28-29 G - 8 Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations

18. Summary of Post GEO-1 Activity Accomplishments Subgroups formed. Subgroup Terms of Reference established and distributed. GEO-2 planning begun. Annotated draft Framework outline issued, including Subgroup assignments. Subgroups began work by October 1, 2003. Website and draft GEO briefing package developed. Key Milestones to end of 2003 Secretariat to complete draft introduction and purpose sections of Framework by October 31, 2003. Draft chapters due to Secretariat from Subgroups by October 31, 2003. Secretariat to compile and distribute to members and participants the chapters for first draft framework document by November 14, 2003. GEO-2 meeting in Italy, November 28-29, 2003. Group on Earth bservations Group on Earth bservations