Canada s Participation in the Group on Earth Observations

Canada’s Participation in the Group on Earth Observations 21 st Century Earth-Observation Solutions to Build a Safe, Healthy and Prosperous World DRAFT 2 - Sept 10

Canada Delivering on the Earth Observation Summit U. S. Department of State, Washington DC July 31, 2003

Land use Soil quality Deforestation Desertification Severe Weather Flood/Drought Ozone Depletion Ecosystems Fish stocks Secure Water Climate Change Carbon sinks El Nino/La Nina Smog Healthy persons Secure Food Hurricane Tsunami Storm Surge

EO Summit Declaration Affirmed need for timely, quality, long-term, global information as a basis for sound decision making. Recognized need to support: – Comprehensive, coordinated, sustained Earth observation system or systems; – Coordinated effort to address capacity-building needs related to Earth observations; – Exchange of observations in a full and open manner with minimum time delay and minimum cost recognizing relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation; – Preparation of a 10 -year Implementation Plan, building on existing systems and initiatives Established ad hoc intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) to develop Plan • Invited other governments to join.

ad hoc Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations – GEO - Accomplishments • GEO 1; Washington DC – Launched the initiative • GEO 2; Baveno, Italy – Refined the structures and goals • GEO 3; Cape Town, RSA – Negotiated the outcomes for EO Summit II – Established the IPTT • GEO 4; Tokyo, Japan – Adoption of the Framework

GEO Initiatives in Canada • Interdepartmental structures • Canadian analysis of priorities in the socio-economic benefit areas • Analysis of large scale investments • Stakeholder consultations • GEO 5 Meeting November 29 – 30 Ottawa

Benefits for Investing in Earth Observations • Development of international tools for treaty enforcement & reporting; • Safe and efficient exploitation of natural resources and their competitiveness; (e. g. forestry, agricultural) • Development of environmental indicators (e. g. air and water quality, greenhouse gases); • Support public policy decisions - northern development; • Development of high-tech, innovative, knowledge-based industry; (e. g. Remote Sensing – niche market approach) • Facilitate access to foreign information and methodologies; • Strengthen a horizontal approach to science, science leadership and strategic planning; and • Enhance United States - Canada and Europe-Canada cooperation.

Socio – Economic Benefit Areas • Reducing loss of life and property from natural and humaninduced disasters; • Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well being; • Improving management of energy resources; • Understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to climate variability and change; • Improving water resource management through better understanding of the water cycle; • Improving weather information, forecasting, and warning; • Improving the management and protection of terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems; • Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification; • Understanding, monitoring, and conserving biodiversity.

The scope of the GEO initiative • to be completed once this has been agreed to

Strong support of GEO will benefit the private sector… • GEOSS there will be huge increase in the amount of global EO data available for development into marketable information • Canada’s value-added EO industry is significant, and growing… – e. g. remote-sensing industry in 2002 employed over 900 people with revenues over $230 M. • In Canada, GEO investments can benefit the agricultural industry, through improved crop production and security of food supplies, better pest control, etc. • The forest products industry contributes $59 B to our economy. It would benefit through better knowledge of forest fire conditions and rates of deforestation, • The oceans contribute $19 B to our economy and would benefit from better knowledge of ocean currents, temperatures and salinity, which affect fish stocks • Many sectors of the economy, including transportation, benefit from improvements to our weather prediction models.

The Path Forward EOS I United States Initial GEO Meeting—August 1 -2 Info Sessions GEO-2 Italy November 28 -29 Complete Framework Document GEO 4 / EOS II Japan = Document Milestones Complete 10 -Year Implementation Plan = GEO Meetings planned G-8 = Other GEO Meetings IPTT WS GEO 5 Canada Int`l Coop = Significant Events IP Draft 0 - Canadian Workshops A S O N D J F M A M J J 2004 IP Draft 1 A S O N EOS III Brussels D J 2005

Path forward in Canada… • Sept; – direction on the draft Canadian 10 -year EO plan and governance mechanism – policy positions on International 10 -year EO plan and governance mechanism – consultation with provinces, academic community and industry • Oct. : preparation of an MC • Nov. 29 -30: GEO-5 - 200 int’l participants in Ottawa – decisions on international 10 -year plan and governance • Feb. 16 2005: EO Summit III in Brussels – Ministerial approval of Int’l 10 year plan and Governance – Announcements of national commitments

Outstanding – ongoing Issues for Canada • Accelerated timeline – comfort level of Governmental review of IP and governance model • Robust analyses of socio-economic benefits • Continued emphasis on space – strengthen in situ connection • The Martin agenda & US election November 2; connecting the dots • Data Policy - Access control – One data policy will likely not support all SEBA`s • The evolving governance model – beyond EOS III – Role of United Nations, developing countries, private sector • Keeping it on the G 8 Agenda

Canadian Group on Earth bservations http: //www. cgeo-gcot. gc. ca

Participating Governments • • • • • Algeria Argentina Australia Belgium Belize Brazil Cameroon Canada China Cyprus Denmark Egypt Finland France Gabon Germany Greece • • • • India Iran Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan, co-chair Kazakhstan Mexico Morocco Mozambique Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway • • • • Portugal Republic of the Congo Republic of Korea Russian Federation South Africa, co-chair Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Thailand Ukraine United Kingdom United States, co-chair Uzbekistan European Commission, cochair

Participating International Organizations • • • • • • • Association for the Development of Environmental Information (ADIE) 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 Environmental Agency (EEA) European Space Agency (ESA) European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 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 Council for Science (ICSU) International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA) International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Network of European Meteorological Services/Composite Observing System (EUMETNET/EUCOS) Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) World Bank (IBRD) World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Better Earth Observations will: Contribute to a reduction in deaths and damage to property caused by natural and humaninduced disasters. In Canada, natural hazards caused $5. 5 billion in damages over the last decade.

Better Earth Observations will: Help us learn more about how pollution moves through water and air. Improved Earth observations will give us the tools to more effectively predict air pollution and the spread of diseases such as the West Nile virus. This will lead to cleaner air and improvements in human health.

Better Earth Observations will: Help us manage our water supplies and develop better flood and drought warnings. Municipalities depend on water data to plan and operate their water facilities and improve water quality.

Better Earth Observations will: Help our farmers increase crop yields and develop better agricultural practices. Agriculture generates exports worth more than $24 billion and represents 8. 3% of our GNP. Better Earth observations will help farmers deal with prolonged drought or severe weather, insect infestations and diseases that can destroy entire crops.

Better Earth Observations will: Improve weather forecasts and warnings, save lives and reduce property damage. Approximately $100 billion of Canada’s economy is weathersensitive. Weather and related hazards, such as storms, floods, cold spells and heat waves have wide-ranging impacts on Canadian society and our economy.

Better Earth Observations will: Help conserve the diversity of animals, plants and other living organisms. To better protect ecosystems and species, scientists need better data on biodiversity.

What are we doing here ? We are opening dialogue and seeking opinion from all members of the Earth Observation community in Canada – Provincial and Territorial Governments, NGOs, academia, industry

Why are we consulting ? We want to ensure that the Earth Observation strategy that has been developed by the Government of Canada suitably represents Canada’s many and varied EO stakeholders.

How are we consulting ? • these information and consultation sessions are delivered across the country • A Web site provides additional information and a feedback mechanism

What will we do with your input ? An analysis of all stakeholder inputs will help fine-tune the 10 -year plan for Earth Observation in Canada and direct our GEO negotiations with other countries.

What should you do ? Visit the Web site where your input is awaited. Instructions there will lead you to reference materials and to the consultation form: http: //www. cgeo-gcot. gc. ca/consult

Thank you for your participation The Canadian GEO Team