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Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiative
The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002 that called for strengthened cooperation and coordination among global observing systems and research programmes for integrated global observations. The outcome of the G-8 Summit held in Evian in June 2003 that called for strengthened international cooperation on global observation of the environment.
On July 31, 2003, thirty-three nations and the European Commission gathered together at Washington D.C. for the 1st Earth Observation Summit. A declaration that called for action in strengthening global cooperation on Earth observation was adopted. The first Earth Observation Summit attracted a distinguished group of government dignitaries who are committed to significantly advance collective ability to gather and use Earth observation data.
The Summit participants launched the intergovernmental ad hoc Group on Earth Observations (GEO) with the goal of furthering the creation of a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Earth observing system or systems. The group, co-chaired by the United States, the European Commission, Japan, and South Africa, and joined by more than 21 international organizations, began its work by organizing five subgroups. The framework for a 10-year Implementation Plan will be presented at a 2nd Earth Observation Summit in Tokyo next Spring.
The role that IGOS-P carries out to the GEO is of a great interest and has already been initiated.
