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Paris, France, 5 June 1998 ICSU Secretariat CONTENTS Progress Reports from the Directors of GCOS, GOOS and GTOS Introduction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a potential sponsor Joint Panels and co-ordination between the G3OS Co-ordination with international bodies and programmes Programme support and operation Development of other joint activities Sponsorship issues Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Date and host of the next meeting The meeting was opened by the Executive Director of ICSU, the session Chair, at 9 am on Friday 5 June. The agenda was adopted with some modifications (Annex 1). Apologies from the IOC and FAO representatives were conveyed. The list of participants is given in Annex 2. Progress Reports from the Directors of GCOS, GOOS and GTOS The Director of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) provided a comprehensive report on activities and progress of GCOS since the last meeting of the sponsors. It was noted that the process of finding a successor to the present GCOS chair was well underway, and that the Sponsors would be asked to endorse the proposed candidate. The GCOS MOU, which had been redrafted to reflect the changes toward better integration between the Global Observing Systems (G3OS), as discussed at the last Sponsors Group meeting, had been circulated to the Sponsors. Further suggestions were awaited before finalising the text. Candidates had been proposed to fill the vacancies on the GCOS Steering Committee, subject to the approval of the Sponsors. The next meeting of the Steering Committee would take place in early spring of 1999. The Sponsors were requested to assist in the replacement of the GCOS Director, who was to leave in July. Reductions in the number of staff at the secretariat were also noted. The publication of brochures and other documents was announced. A diagram illustrating the G3OS modules and the relationship between them was presented and suggestions for improvement requested. It was suggested that the Directors of the G3OS review and modify the G3OS chart provided by GCOS. A new chairman of the Global Observing Systems Space Panel (GOSSP) is being appointed subject to confirmation. It was proposed that a consensus between all three systems should be made before the appointment of a joint panel chair and other key appointments. The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) would consult with their respective Steering Committees on the pending appointment of a new chair. It was proposed that each observing system should take on responsibility for a joint panel on a rotational basis. GCOS would continue to be responsible for GOSSP. The GOOS Director reported on the evolution of the programme. Progress in several of the modules was noted, particularly the Coastal GOOS and Living Marine Resources (LMR). Two new regional pilot projects, Pacific-GOOS and Mediterranean GOOS (Med-GOOS) were underway. Existing observing systems which form the basis of GOOS, but which did not previously interact, were now being managed through a GOOS Initial Observing System to correspond more to GOOS needs. An Interim Implementation Advisory Group has been set up to ensure the integration of various existing observing systems in the GOOS Initial Observing System so as to lead eventually to operational GOOS. The next step is to incorporate national ocean observing systems. Efforts will be made to start this process in 1999. A document of Principles of GOOS Capacity Building is being drawn up by the GOOS Steering Committee to steer the GOOS Capacity Building Programme more effectively. The publication of the GOOS Strategic Plan and the GOOS 1998 - a prospectus for GOOS, was announced. The planned GOOS Agreements meeting had been cancelled, because it was deemed more effective to use established intergovernmental mechanisms such as the IOC assembly for national endorsement of GOOS. A draft resolution was being prepared to be sent to delegates well in advance of the 1999 IOC Assembly. A Commitments meeting, involving heads of Agencies, would be organised after the resolution was in place to bring national observing systems into GOOS. The Sponsors continued to recognise the need for a coordinated joint mechanism for implementing the stated requirements for ocean and surface marine meteorological data to support the common GOOS/GCOS ocean climate module, as well as other developing requirements of GOOS. In this respect, the proposal to establish a new joint IOC/WMO body for oceanography and marine meteorology, with status and responsibility similar to a WMO Technical Commission, was welcomed. The new joint body would replace the existing CMM and Joint Committee for IGOSS. It was agreed that the representatives of the sponsors would bring to the attention of relevant constituent bodies the strong support of the Sponsors Group meeting for this initiative. The Director of GTOS summarised the activities of the observing system over the last few months, as presented in a report to the Sponsors. They were informed of the appointment of a new chairman to the GTOS Steering Committee. The GTOS Steering committee was scheduled to meet 15-19 June in Santander, Spain; the Spanish regional government had provided partial funding for the meeting. It was pointed out that although there was adequate administrative support in the Secretariat, there was a strong need to fill the positions of two senior scientific officers. In addition to its work on establishing GT-Net, improving TEMS, and participating in joint panels, GTOS is focusing on initiating regional networks by developing an Eastern European component (in collaboration with the EU No-Limits project) and in the SADC countries of southern Africa. Contact had been established with IGBP and several of their LUCC meetings had been attended by steering committee members. There was now a need for discussions on more specific collaboration and an IGBP representative had been invited to the steering committee meeting. Introduction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a potential sponsor The representative of the IAEA presented a brief overview of the objectives and activities of the organisation. Measurements of organic pollutants, isotopes in precipitation and radioactivity in the oceans were examples of the type of areas in which IAEA could contribute to the Global Observing Systems, as well as capacity building. The IAEA has significant technical and scientific expertise in quality control, an essential complement to the G3OS. Although most of the organizations around the table already had strong links with the IAEA, the Sponsors agreed that the agency should talk with the G3OS directors to discuss areas of cooperation, whether or not it was considering sponsorship. It was recognised that the HOTO Panel of GOOS was a natural starting place for a link between IAEA and GOOS, and this matter will be taken forward by the GOOS Project Office. Joint panels and co-ordination between the G3OS Joint Data and Information Management Panel (J-DIMP) The Sponsors noted the divergent data and information requirements for each observing system. There was concern that J-DIMP is not the best forum in which to develop data and information management plans. They recommended that each Observing System separately consider its own approach to data and information management, later coming together to address overarching issues through a smaller J-DIMP. Nevertheless the J-DIMP metadata project and the joint G3OS information centre being developed under J-DIMP auspices were seen as useful developments. Global Observing Systems Space Panel (GOSSP) GOSSP had put together a useful profile of what the G3OS bodies required. Upon the resignation of the chair, GOOS and GTOS reconsidered their participation in the GOSSP. GOOS agreed to continue support for GOOS at its Steering Committee meeting and GTOS will consider the issue at its Steering Committee meeting later this month. There will be a small meeting of GOSSP under a new chairman as soon as practicable. GOSSP will work to provide advice to the CEOS plenary in November as to the G3OS requirements. In revising GOSSP, it has to be large enough to encompass an appropriate technical range to cover a broad set of issues while working mainly through specialised working groups and remaining small enough to achieve results. Much of the work can be done by e-mail. A small knowledgeable rapid response group is required. Terrestrial Observing Panel for Climate (TOPC) GTOS still needs to identify a mechanism for non-climate variables (e.g. land, freshwater, biodiversity and pollution). Many of the experts currently on the TOPC and the variables they have identified for climate would also apply to the other variables. The Sponsors noted that the issue of GTOS leading the Terrestrial Observing Panel for Climate (TOPC) would be discussed at the upcoming Steering Committee meeting. Ocean Observing Panel for Climate (OOPC) The last meeting of the OOPC took place in France in April and good progress was reported. The panel will be making a contribution, with WMO, to an El Niño Retrospective which will evaluate the success of the El Niño forecasting system and determine what improvements are needed in it. It was noted that the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE), a project under the OOPC was progressing rapidly, and that its strategic plan would be ready in 1999. The Sponsors suggested that the elements which had led to the success of the OOPC should be identified for guidance in the management of the other panels. Co-ordination with international bodies and programmes Progress on the GCOS draft report to the UNFCCC SBSTA on the adequacy of the Global Observing Systems was reported. Three main points emerged from the document: the data available is not perfect, it can be improved with little expense, and effective sharing of data could bring governments closer to the Convention targets. The IPCC, the G3OS Sponsors and the Global Change research programmes had all been consulted. The Sponsors agreed that this was an important development which showed that the G3OS were being accepted as advisors to the Convention. This could lead to an opportunity for funding through the GEF mechanism, as well as strengthening the dialogue between the G3OS and the convention secretariats, if the report responded to the requirements of those bodies. The Sponsors noted that although contact with IGBP had been made on several occasions, it would be useful to the G3OS if closer involvement could be achieved. An effective way would be through the Steering Committees and panels, to which a representative of IGBP could be nominated to provide the link. Programme support and operation Budgets and Fund-raising It was suggested that in view of the potential for international funding support for climate observations, a project proposal for the next GEF project rounds should be formulated. The Sponsors were informed about the UN's Turner Fund which will focus on environmental issues among others. A good proposal from the G3OS could easily be submitted to the Turner fund. Secretariat support Concern was raised about the diminishing staff at the GCOS secretariat and the imminent departure of the Director. It is imperative that WMO provide someone to fill the post of GCOS director temporarily when T. Spence leaves and until his replacement arrives. The sponsors are aware of and concerned about the budget problems of the three observing systems and their secretariats. They were encouraged to investigate the possibility of seconding personnel to the G3OS secretariats. Development of other joint activities Coastal areas Collaboration on that topic was reported to be taking place, notably between GOOS and GTOS. A Pan-African Conference on integrated coastal zone management will be held in Maputo (Mozambique) from 18 to 24 July 1998 co-organized by UNESCO and its IOC, UNEP and FAO (to be confirmed) as well as the Governments of Mozambique and Finland. The Conference will also be used to create awareness about and support for global observing systems Socio-economic benefits Although some cost-benefit analyses had been undertaken within GOOS in its early days, very little has been done by the systems as a whole on the topic. EuroGOOS is currently developing standard mechanisms for cost-benefit analyses in the European context, and its mechanisms may well be transportable elsewhere under the GOOS banner. The need to persuade developing countries that the G3OS were beneficial to them as well as to developed countries was strongly felt. The Sponsors agreed that a brochure describing the socio-economic benefits of the G3OS would be useful, both in persuading developing countries and in finding sources of funding. The Sponsors of GTOS noted that GCOS and GOOS have mechanisms for reporting to the Executive bodies of their host organizations (WMO and IOC respectively). It was concluded that a similar mechanism (such as regular reporting to the FAO council) would be appropriate for GTOS. The Sponsors recommended that the FAO representative to GTOS raise this matter for consideration at the highest appropriate level in FAO. The new priority topics at UNEP, including namely Environment, Research and Assessment was felt to be an opportunity for the Sponsors to have more influence on the funding possibilities of the G3OS. Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) The draft Annex to the Partners Exchange of Letters, a document prepared after a meeting between CEOS and the G3OS to consolidate the cooperation between the two communities, was reviewed. The Sponsors felt that the document was too formal, and the terms of collaboration with CEOS on an Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) not flexible enough. It was recommended that a reduced and modified text be prepared for presentation at the IGOS Partners meeting on 6 June. A one page text was duly prepared. Date and host of the next meeting FAO kindly offered to host the next meeting of the Sponsors Group at its headquarters in Rome. This will take place in March 1999. The meeting was closed at 6:30 pm. |
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| ANNEX 1 | |||
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AGENDA 1. Opening of the meeting and introduction of participants 2. Adoption of the Agenda and working procedures 3. Progress Reports from the Directors of GCOS, GOOS and GTOS 4. Introduction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a potential sponsor 5. Joint Panels update and
co-ordination between the G3OS 6. Co-ordination with international
bodies and programmes 7. Programme support and
operation 8. Development of other joint
activities 9. Sponsorship issues 10. Integrated Global Observing
Strategy (IGOS) 11. Date, host organization and venue of the next meeting |
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| ANNEX 2 | |||
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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS GCOS - Global Climate Observing
System Joint Planning Office GTOS - Global Terrestrial
Observing System IAEA - International Atomic
Energy Agency ICSU - International Council
of Scientific Unions Ms Sophie Boyer King GOOS - Global Ocean Observing
System UNEP - United Nations Environment
Programme UNESCO - United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization WMO - World Meteorological
Organization |
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