WSSD Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS)
[last updated December 29, 2003 11:28 AM]

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General Information
Partnership website(s)
Expected Timeframe
September 2002 - Open Ended
Partners
Governments:
    		Major Groups:
    • Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) ()
    • Global Atmosphere Watch of WMO ()
    • Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) ()
    • Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) ()
    • Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) ()
    • Int'l Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) ()
    • International Council for Science (ICSU) ()
    • World Climate Research Prog (WCRP) ()
    UN System:
    • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (France)
    • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) (France)
    • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (Kenya)
    • World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
    • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ()
    		Other intergovernmental organizations:
    • European Space Agency (ESA) (France)
    Other:
    • IGFA ()
    		 
    Thematic Focus
    Primary Themes:
    • Means of Implementation (Trade, Finance, Technology, Transfer, etc.)
    		 Secondary Themes:
    • Education
    Geographic Coverage
    Geographic Scope: Global
    Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
    Brazil, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United States of America
    National Focal Points
    At present, no information is available as to whether the partnership has made contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the relevant countries.
    Goals and Objectives
    Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
    The principal objectives of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy are to address how well user requirements are being met by the existing mix of observations, including those of the global observing systems, and how they could be met in the future through better integration and optimization of remote-sensing (especially space-based) and in situ systems.
    The Integrated Global Observing Strategy serves as guidance to those responsible for defining and implementing individual observing systems. Implementation of the Strategy, i.e. the establishment and maintenance of the components of an integrated global observing system, remains with those governments and organizations that have made relevant commitments, for example, within the governing councils of the observing systems' sponsors.
    The "Theme" approach is a step-wise internal process based on perceived priorities towards the development of the integrated global observing strategy.
    The IGOS Partnership brings together the efforts of a number of international bodies concerned with the observational component of global environmental issues, both from a research and a long-term operational programme perspective.
    Targets and Progress
    Partnership targets
    IGOS aims to:
    * provide an overarching view to help improve understanding by governments of the significance of global environmental monitoring;
    * provide a framework for decisions to ensure continuity in the observation of key variables;
    * offer a forum for exchange of information on the Partners' relevant activities and to promote dialogue between Space agencies, agencies supporting in-situ observing systems and scientific research programmes;
    * identify gaps in existing observation systems and to seek to address IGOS-related user requirements, including requirements to strengthen the institutional capacity to implement integrated global observations;
    * carry out specific activities to develop and enhance individual components that will complement and demonstrate the value of the Strategy;
    * promote amongst different user groups, all aspects of Strategy implementation by national and international agencies, including supporting data policies, enhanced product processing chains, better archiving and improved accessibility to the information products.
    Progress against targets
    The first IGOS Theme report - on The Ocean - was published in January 2001.
    The second Theme report on the Global Carbon Cycle and the third Theme report on Atmospheric Chemistry Observations are well under way. In November 2001, the IGOS Partnership approved the fourth Theme on the Global Water Cycle Observations as well as a Coral Reef-Sub-theme as the first component of an expected Coastal Theme. In May 2002, the IGOS Partnership approved the Geo Hazards Theme.
    Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
    Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
    • Education/building awareness
    • Institutional strengthening, including local participation
    Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
    How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
    On 11th February 2000, the United Nations General Assemble adopted Resolution 54/68 endorsing the recommendations of UNISPACE III. The UNISPACE III Resolution defines specific elements to address global challenges, and requests "to develop and implement the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) so as to enable access to and the use of space-based and other Earth observation data."
    In the report of the Secretary-General titled "Implementing Agenda 21", Box 26 introduces IGOS Partnership as follows:
    "The Integrated Global Observing Strategy links space-based and ground-based observations. Supporting technologies, such as geographical information systems, satellite-positioning systems, photogrammetry, artificial intelligence and neural networks, are enhancing satellite-based information systems to provide services to user communities. The seamless integration of satellite-based services, together with conventional services, through the World Wide Web, will provide information to users in a format and style most useful to them. But there is an urgent need for human resource development and for scientists from different disciplines to work together to understand and implement scientific solutions to support sustainable development."
    Relating paragraphs of Agenda 21 and CSD decisions are as follows:
    AGENDA 21 OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (1992)
    (d) Improvement of methods of data assessment and analysis
    "40.9 Relevant international organizations should develop practical recommendations for coordinated, harmonized collection and assessment of data at the national and international levels."
    THE NINTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CSD9: APRIL 2001)
    Decision 9/ 2 (Atmosphere)
    "8. The Commission emphasizes the importance of:
    (d) Encouraging relevant international organizations, especially the United Nations specialized agencies, to jointly plan and implement a strategy for integrated global observations to monitor the Earth's atmosphere."
    Decision 9/ 4 (Information for Decision-making and Participation)
    "2. The Commission: ...
    (d) Urges strengthened cooperation and coordination among global observing systems and research programmes for integrated global observations taking into account, the need for sharing, among all countries, of valuable data such as ground based observation data and satellite remote sensing data."
    Coordination and Implementation
    Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership
    The IGOS Partnership is chaired by two Co-chairs, which rotates on an annual basis. Current Co-chairs of the IGOS Partnership are NOAA (2002/3) and UNESCO (2002/3), followed by MOST China (2003/4) and FAO (2003/4). The past Co-Chair, ESA (2001/2), had Observer status at the WSSD and UNESCO participated in the WSSD process as a specialized UN agency.
    The IGOS website (http://www.igospartners.org) which provides an accessible and up-to-date source of information on IGOS, its activities, events and output. The IGOS Bulletin which is produced and distributed twice a year. You can also register to receive copies of the IGOS Bulletin, distributed twice a year by the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) by sending an e-mail to Dominique Fourny-Delloye at: Dominique.Fournydelloye@cnes.fr
    Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership
    The Partners recognise that it is not practical to attempt to define a comprehensive global system that would in a single step satisfy all needs for environmental information. Rather, they have adopted a process - The IGOS Themes - which allows for the coherent definition and development of an overall global strategy for observing selected fields of common interest among a group of the Partners. Selection of the Themes is based on an assessment of the relevant scientific and operational priorities for overcoming deficiencies in information, as well as analysis of the state of development of relevant existing and planned observing systems.
    The IGOS Themes Process involves:
    * agreement by the Partners on a Theme proposal, including leadership and resources;
    * establishment of a Theme team;
    * consolidation of the requirements for observations for the chosen Theme, with agreement on a common set of essential observations and their technical characteristics (such as accuracy and frequency), and definition of priority areas for future improvements;
    * definition of the known space-based and in-situ observing systems which might support these requirements, now or in future;
    * a 'commitments' process whereby user agencies can work with data providing agencies to agree steps to achieve the necessary improvements - including changes to the observation plans of individual agencies to eliminate gaps and overlaps in capabilities - in order to achieve maximum benefit from the observations;
    * identification of a recommended institutional framework with the responsibility and capacity required for the long-term implementation of suitable operational networks.
    CEOS coordinates the data/information needs stemming from Earth observation satellites.
    Resources
    Funding Currently Available
    Amount in US$: 0
    Source(s):
    Activities within CEOS and IGOS-P are funded by the participating organisations within their own funding mechanisms.
    Non-financial resources available
    Type(s):
    Source(s):
    Funding Sought
    Required Amount in US$: 0
    Source(s) already approached:
    Non-financial resources sought
    Requirement(s):
    Source(s) approached and details:
    Additional Information
    Additional Relevant Information
    No additional information to report at present.