participants37

ENENEUROPEANCOMMISSIONBrussels,25.
9.
2014SWD(2014)292finalCOMMISSIONSTAFFWORKINGDOCUMENTGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS):Achievementstodateandchallengesto20252CONTENTSEXECUTIVESUMMARY31.
INTRODUCTION.
42.
STATEOFPLAY.
52.
1THEGEOCONTEXT52.
2MAINGEOACHIEVEMENTS62.
2.
1IMPROVEDMULTILATERALCOLLABORATIONANDCOORDINATIONINEARTHOBSERVATION2.
2.
2FULLANDOPENSHARINGOFEARTHOBSERVATIONS2.
2.
3DISCOVERYOFANDACCESSTOAWIDEPORTFOLIOOFEARTHOBSERVATIONDATASETS2.
2.
4CAPACITYBUILDINGINCLUDINGINDEVELOPINGCOUNTRIES2.
3CURRENTENGAGEMENTOFTHEEUTOWARDSTHEGEOANDTHEGEOSS92.
3.
1BASISFOREUACTION2.
3.
2COSTIMPLICATION2.
3.
3EXAMPLESOFEUROPEANCONTRIBUTIONS2.
4TOWARDSARENEWEDGEOSSIMPLEMENTATIONPLANFOR2016-2025.
132.
5CONSULTATIONRESULTS143.
CHALLENGESAHEAD153.
1TIMELINESSFORADEBATEINEUROPE.
153.
2GEOPROSPECTSOFINTERESTTOTHEEU.
153.
2.
1EU'SINTERNATIONALSTANDINGTOCOLLABORATEONEOANDTACKLEGLOBALCHALLENGES3.
2.
2ACHIEVINGEUPOLICYGOALSWITHTHEGEOSS3.
2.
3COORDINATIONOFEOPUBLICSECTORINITIATIVESINTHEEU3.
2.
4GROWTHANDECONOMICRETURNFROMEXPLOITINGTHEGEOSSINTHEEU3.
3ISSUESFORCONSENSUSBYTHEWHOLEGEOCOMMUNITY213.
3.
1SUSTAININGTHEGEOSSINFORMATIONSYSTEM3.
3.
2FOSTERINGGLOBALINITIATIVESANDDEVELOPINGPARTNERSHIPS3.
3.
3CAPACITYBUILDING3.
3.
4LINKINGGEOSOCIETALBENEFITAREASANDSUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENTTHEMES3.
3.
5COLLABORATIONWITHTHEPRIVATESECTOR3.
3.
6MECHANISMFORSTEADYRESOURCESCOMMITMENTSTOGEOSS3.
4EU-SPECIFICISSUESFORPOSSIBLECONSIDERATION263.
4.
1GEO-RELATEDCOORDINATIONMECHANISMSINEUROPE3.
4.
2COORDINATIONOFEUROPEANRESEARCHANDINNOVATIONINTHEFIELDOFEARTHOBSERVATION3.
4.
3SYNERGIESBETWEENTHEGEOSSANDCOPERNICUS3.
4.
4AVENUESFORENGAGINGTHEEUROPEANPRIVATESECTORINGEOFORPOSSIBLECONSIDERATION4.
CONCLUSION.
34ANNEXEI:LISTOFACRONYMS.
35ANNEXEII:GEOBACKGROUND36ANNEXEIII:EXAMPLESOFFP7CONTRIBUTIONSTOGEOANDGEOSS.
40ANNEXEIV:BACKGROUNDINFORMATIONONTHEEUCOPERNICUSPROGRAMME.
45ANNEXEV:EXAMPLESOFEUROPEANRESEARCHINFRASTRUCTURESRELATEDTOTHEMONITORINGOFTHEENVIRONMENT.
.
.
49ANNEXEVI:ASSESSMENTOFGEOACHIEVEMENTSBYEXTERNALEXPERTS51ANNEXEVII:CONSULTATIONOFEUROPEANGEOMEMBERCOUNTRIESANDPARTICIPATINGORGANISATIONS.
54ANNEXEVIII:THEEARTHOBSERVATIONSERVICEINDUSTRYANDRELATEDMARKETS583EXECUTIVESUMMARYThisstaffworkingdocumentprovidesthestateofplayregardingtheintergovernmentalGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)andtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS)afteralmost9yearsofimplementation.
ItidentifiesthemainchallengeswhichEuropeisfacinginviewofacceleratingtheevolutionoftheGEOSSintoasystemofsystemsthatcouldeffectivelycontributetoEUpolicies,generatebusinessopportunitiesfortheEUindustryandbringbenefitstoEuropeansocietyasawhole.
Twocategoriesofchallengesaredescribed,accompaniedbyanumberofissuesidentifiedsofarthroughCommissionconsultations1orbyGEOgroups2involvingEuropeanexperts:(i)GEO-specificchallengeswhichconcernthewholeGEOinternationalcommunityincludingitsEuropeanmembers,and(ii)EU-specificchallenges.
(i)GEO-specificchallengesrelateessentiallyto:thetransitionoftheGEOSStowardsanoperationalsystemofsystems;fosteringtheGEOinternationalinitiativesandnewpartnerships;theoptimisationofGEOcapacitybuildingactivities,especiallyindevelopingcountries;therevisionoftheGEOsocietalchallengeswithalignmenttoSustainableDevelopmentThemes;thegeneralGEOframeworkforengagingtheprivatesectoronaworldwidebasis;GEOmechanismsforresourcecommitmentstotheGEOSS.
(ii)EU-specificchallengesmainlyconcern:GEO-relatedcoordinationmechanismsatEuropeanandnationallevels;theroleoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeinsupporttotheGEOSSandtheevolutionoftheEuropeanResearchAreainthefieldofEarthobservation;possiblesynergiesbetweentheGEOSSandtheEUCopernicusprogramme;themobilisationoftheEuropeanprivatesectortoseizefutureGEOSSbusinessopportunitiesinagrowingglobaldigitaleconomy.
Thechallengesandissuesidentifiedsofararepreliminaryinnatureandwillrequirefurtheranalysis,assessmentandrefinementincaseoffollow-upaction.
1AssessmentofGEOachievementsandbenefitsconductedbyapoolofEuropeanexpertsduringthesecondsemester2013(annexeVI)andconsultationoftherepresentativesoftheEuropeanGEOMembercountriesandParticipatingOrganisationsviatheGEOHighLevelWorkingGroup(annexeVII).
2GEOgroupsincludingtheGEOPost-2015WorkingGroup,theImplementationPlanWorkingGroup,theBoardsforInfrastructureImplementationandforInstitutionsandDevelopment,theDataManagementTaskForce,theDataSharingWorkingGroupandtheGEOMinisterialWorkingGroup.
41.
INTRODUCTIONTheurgentneedforcoordinatedobservationsrelatingtothestateoftheEarthhasbeenparticularlyhighlightedsincetheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentinJohannesburg(SouthAfrica)in2002andthemeetingoftheHeadsofStateoftheGroupofEightIndustrializedCountries(G8)inEvian(France)in2003.
In2005,severalgovernments,andtheEuropeanCommission,establishedtheintergovernmentalGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)foraperiodof10years(2005-2015)withthevision"torealizeafuturewhereindecisionsandactionsforthebenefitofhumankindareinformedbycoordinated,comprehensiveandsustainedEarthobservationsandinformation"andtheobjectiveofimplementingtheGEOSS,theGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems3.
Recently,on17January2014,theMinistersandotherheadsofdelegationsfromtheGEOMembergovernmentshaveresolvedtocontinuetheGEOvoluntarypartnership.
TheyhavedecidedtorenewGEOforanotherperiodof10yearsandrequestedtodevelop,byendof2015,aplanforimplementingtheGEOSSthrough20254.
Atthesametime,severalmajorEUprogrammesexpectedtocontributespecificallytotheGEOandtheGEOSShavebeeninitiatedfortheperiod2014-2020.
ThisincludesHorizon20205,theUnion'sFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandInnovation2014–2020establishedbyRegulation(EU)No1291/2013oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil,andCopernicus6,theEUEarthobservationflagshipprogrammeestablishedbyRegulation(EU)No377/2014oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil.
ThisstaffworkingdocumentprovidesthestateofplayregardingtheGEOinitiativeandtheimplementationoftheGEOSS.
ItreflectsthemainchallengesidentifiedsofarfromCommissionconsultationsand/orGEOreports,whichEuropewillbeconfrontedwithinthefuture,bothatEUlevelandcollectivelywiththeotherGEOMembers.
Definitionof"EarthObservations"(EO)Forthepurposeofthisdocument,theterm"Earthobservations"referstomeasurementsofvariablesrelatedtothevariouscomponentsofthesystemEarth(e.
g.
oceans,landsurface,solidEarth,biosphere,cryosphere,atmosphereandionosphere)andtheirinteractions.
Thesemeasurementsareobtainedbyindividualorcombined,fixedormobilesensingelements,beinginstrumentsorhumanobservers,eitherinsituorthroughremotesensing.
"Insituobservations"areunderstoodintheGEOcontext7asobservationscapturedlocally,i.
e.
withinafewkilometresoftheobjectorphenomenonbeingobserved.
Theseincludemeasurementstakenforinstanceatgroundstations,byaircraftandprobes,shipsandbuoys.
Bycontrast"remotesensing"encompassesobservationsmadeatalargerdistance.
IntheGEOcontext,thisreferstypicallytospace-borneEarthobservations.
3ResolutionofthethirdEarthObservationSummitinBrusselsof16February2005http://www.
earthobservations.
org/documents/eos_iii/Third%20Summit%20Resolution.
pdf4TheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)GenevaDeclarationof17January2014http://www.
earthobservations.
org/documents/ministerial/geneva/MS6_The_Geneva_Declaration.
pdf5OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L347/104,20.
12.
2013,p.
1046OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L122/44,24.
4.
2014,p.
447GEOSS10Year-PlanReferenceDocumenthttp://www.
earthobservations.
org/documents/10-Year%20Plan%20Reference%20Document.
pdf52.
STATEOFPLAY2.
1TheGEOcontextObservationsofourplanetarecollectedbyawidediversityofinsituandremotesensinginstrumentson-boardvariousplatformswhetherspace-borne,sea-borne,airborneorgroundbased.
Suchmonitoringsystemsaremanagedbyaplethoraofpublicandprivateentitiesaroundtheworld.
Fordecades,thissituationhasledtoahighfragmentationofthegloballandscapeforEarthsystemmonitoring.
Severalinternationalcoordinationinitiativeshavebeensetup,notablyinthe1980's,toaddressthisfragmentation,suchastheCommitteeonEarthObservationSatellites(CEOS8),theIntegratedGlobalObservingStrategy(IGOS9),orothernationalorinternationalinitiativesoftenstructuredaroundascientificdomain,amonitoringtechnologyoracomponentoftheEarthsystem(e.
g.
oceanswiththeGlobalOceanObservingSystemGOOS10).
However,aglobalEarthobservationcoordinationinitiativehavingacomprehensivescopespanningthroughallscientificdisciplinesandmonitoringtechnologiesandlinkinggovernmentsdirectlywithmonitoringsystems'operatorsandtheEOusercommunitydidnotexistbeforethecreationoftheGEOin2005.
GEO'suniquenessconsistsofitsintergovernmentalandvoluntarynatureanditsapproachofimplementingasystemofdistributedEOsystems.
GEOprovidesalegallynon-bindingframework,establishedoutsidetheframeworkoftheUnitedNations,withinwhichtheGEOMembersdevelopEOactivitiesandprojectsandimplementtheGEOSS.
Thisisbeingperformedinconformitywithanagreed10-yearImplementationPlancoveringtheperiod2005-2015andviamorespecifiedmulti-annualWorkPlans.
Backgroundontheseplans,thehistoryofGEO,itscurrentmembershipandgovernancearegiveninannexeII.
CentraltoGEOSSisthevisionofmakingindividualEOsystemsmoreinterconnectedanddatasetseasilyaccessible.
Thisisaccomplishedthroughthepromotionofcommonprotocolsandinteroperabilityarrangementsandtheexchangeofdata,metadataandproductsinafull,openandunrestrictedmanner.
TheGEOSSsupportstheparadigmshiftfromdisconnectedEOprogrammes,infrastructuresanddatasetstoanopen,sharedsystemofsystemsofdiscoverable,accessibleandusableEOdataandinformation.
TheGEOSSaimstoprovideauniqueentrypoint,universallyaccessible,toaccessnational,regionalandglobalEarthobservationcapacitieswhilstrespectingtheirmandates.
ThesuccessoftheGEOSSlargelydependsontheexpansionofitsglobalnetworkofcontentprovidersandusers.
ThescopeforresourcestobecontributedviatheGEOSSrangesfromrawdata(insituorremotelysensedobservations)toEO-derivedinformationanddatamanagementtoolsrequiredtotransformdataintousefulgeo-productssuchastoolsfordataprocessing,computingandmodelling,visualisationandanalysis.
WhiletheGEOwelcomesalldatacontributionstotheGEOSS,dataprovidershavetodocument-atregistrationstage-anyrestrictionsapplicabletotheexchangeoftheirdata,metadataandproducts.
TheGEOSSaimsatfacilitatingaccesstoglobal,regionalandlocaldataandeasethedevelopmentofEO-derivedproductsforuptakebyabroadrangeofusercommunities,includingmanagersandpolicymakers,scientificresearchers,civilsociety,governmentaland8http://www.
ceos.
org/9http://www.
eohandbook.
com/igosp/index.
htm10http://www.
ioc-goos.
org/6non-governmentalorganisations,internationalbodies,developingcountryusersandtheprivatesector.
Doingso,theGEOaspirestoprovideandtodeliverbenefitsinninesocietalchallengesrelatedtodisasters,health,energy,water,weather,ecosystems,agriculture,biodiversityandclimate.
ThenineGEOsocietalchallengesGEOSSaspirestoencompassallareasoftheworldandtodeliverbenefitstosocietyinthefollowingninesocietalchallenges:Reducinglossoflifeandpropertyfromnaturalandhuman-induceddisasters;Understandingenvironmentalfactorsaffectinghumanhealthandwell-being;Improvingmanagementofenergyresources;Improvingwater-resourcemanagementthroughbetterunderstandingofthewatercycle;Improvingweatherinformation,forecasting,andwarning;Improvingthemanagementandprotectionofterrestrial,coastal,andmarineecosystems;Supportingsustainableagricultureandcombatingdesertification;Understanding,monitoring,andconservingbiodiversity;Understanding,assessing,predicting,mitigatingandadaptingtoclimatevariabilityandchange.
2.
2MainGEOachievementsDuringitsfirstnineyearsofexistence,theGEOinitiativehasmainlybeendedicatedtobuildingandconsolidatingitsfoundations.
TheGEOhasorganiseditself,wideneditspartnershipandarticulatedstepbystepitsaddedvalueonthebasisofvoluntarycontributions.
ThemainGEOachievementstodatecanbegroupedinthefollowingcategories:ImprovedmultilateralcollaborationandcoordinationinEarthobservationFullandopensharingofEarthobservationsDiscoveryofandaccesstoawideportfolioofEOdatasetsCapacitybuildingincludingindevelopingcountries2.
2.
1ImprovedmultilateralcollaborationandcoordinationinEarthobservationSinceitsinception,theGEOhasgraduallydoubleditsmembershiptoreachnow92nationalgovernmentsplustheCommissionand77ParticipatingOrganisations(seethefulllistinannexeII).
ThemembersoftheGEOcommunityrecognise11thatithastakenlongerthanexpectedtomobilisethefullpartnershiptowardsthepracticalimplementationoftheGEOSS.
However,themagnitudeofthetasktobeperformedbytheGEOandthevoluntarynatureofthewholeendeavourshouldbefullyconsidered.
TheGEOmodelcouldbeseenasagoodexampleoftransnationalcooperation,poolingeffortstoaddresssomeofthegrandchallengesthatwearefacingglobally.
Attheendof2013,almost850contributorsfrommorethan340organisationswereengagedincloseto60individualGEOWorkPlanactivities.
Especiallyduringrecentyears,GEOhasfosteredsubstantialmultilateralcollaborationaroundvariousnewinternationalinitiativesaddressingmostoftheGEOsocietalchallenges.
ExamplesofsuchinitiativesincludetheBluePlanetinitiative,theGEOBiodiversityObservingNetwork(GEOBON),theGlobalAgriculturalMonitoringinitiative(GEOGLAM),theGEOCarbonInitiative,theGlobalForestObservingInitiative(GFOI),theGlobalMercuryObservationSystem(GMOS)andtheGeohazardSupersitesinitiative(moredetailsinannexeII).
TheseinitiativesinvolveGEOcommunitiesofpracticethatconsistofself-organisedgroupsofindividualsandorganisationswhocollaborateacrossgeographicandpoliticalboundariesto11GEO-X,15-16January2014,Document5,PreliminaryGuidanceforGEO20257fosterEOapplicationsintheirfieldsofexpertise.
Elevensuchcommunities12ofpracticehavegrownupoverthepastnineyears.
Theyarevoluntary,informal,activity-basedandresults-orientedandsharebestpracticesinanevolvingknowledgebase.
TheGEOIntegratedGlobalWaterCycleObservations(IGWCO)communityofpractice,forinstance,hasdevelopedaGEOSSWaterStrategyReport13whichreviewsthemonitoringstatusforthemaincomponentsoftheglobalwatercycleandprovidesrecommendationstoaddressEOmonitoringgaps.
ThisreportformsthebasisforasubsequentWaterImplementationPlantobeproposedforsupportbyGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisations.
2.
2.
2FullandopensharingofEarthobservationsTheGEOadopteditsfullandopenGEOSSDataSharingPrinciplesbackin2005.
Sincethen,theGEOhasbeeninstrumentalinadvocatingfullandopenaccesstoEOdataworldwide.
TheseprinciplesarethecornerstonesforexpandingdatareusethroughtheGEOSS.
TheGEOpromotesbroadopendataacrossallitssocietalchallengesandencouragesgovernmentsandorganisationswithanEOmandatetoadopt,asfaraspossible,openaccesspoliciesforthedatatheyown.
Actually,allgovernmentsandorganisationswillingtojointheGEOdocommittopromotingtheimplementationoftheseprinciples.
Amilestonehasbeenachievedin2010whentheGEOSSData-CORElabelwasadopted.
GEOSSData-COREdatasetsare"DataCollectionsofOpenResourcesforEveryone"whichcomplywiththeprinciplesoffull,openandunrestrictedaccessatnomorethanthecostofreproductionanddistribution.
TheGEOSSdataCOREconceptisbecomingakeysuccessstoryoftheGEO.
Itallowsuserstodiscoverandtoknowwithoutambiguityabouttheopenconditionsforreuseofthedata.
ThismakestheGEOSSdistinctivefromanyotherweb-basedinfrastructure.
TheuseofthisveryuniquelabelbyEOdataownershasconsiderablyincreasedsince2010with51millionindividualGEOSSdata-COREresourcesin2014.
TheGEOSSDataSharingPrinciples"Therewillbefullandopenexchangeofdata,metadataandproductssharedwithinGEOSS,recognisingrelevantinternationalinstrumentsandnationalpoliciesandlegislation.
Allshareddata,metadataandproductswillbemadeavailablewithminimumtimedelayandatminimumcost.
Allshareddata,metadataandproductsbeingfreeofchargeornomorethancostofreproductionwillbeencouragedforresearchandeducation.
"Examplesofadvancestowardsfullandopensharingofspace-borneEOdataDuringtheperiod2005-2013,manygovernmentsandorganisationshaveadaptedtheirEOdatapolicies,leadingtoasignificantincreaseofdataandinformationbecomingdiscoverable,accessibleandopenlyre-usable.
TheLandsatfreeandopendatapolicyannouncedin2008bytheUSGeologicalSurvey(USGS)hasrevolutionisedtheuseoffourdecadesofLandsatdata,spurringinnovationandtriggeringnewscienceandapplications.
AsaresulttheincreaseofLandsatdatausewasdramaticwithover100timesmoredatadownloadedin2011thanin2007.
In2010,theEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA)hasadoptedamoreopenapproachtoitsEOdatapolicyforseveralspacemissionsincludingtheEuropeanRemoteSensing(ERS)satellites,EnvisatandtheEarthExplorermissions.
Alongthesamelines,theDelegatedRegulation(EU)No1159/2013onaccesstoCopernicusdataandinformationandtheRegulation(EU)No377/2014establishingtheCopernicusProgrammerepresentmajorstepstowardsthefree,fullandopendisseminationofCopernicusdedicateddata,includingdataacquiredbytheseriesofSentinelsatellites,andtheinformationdeliveredbytheCopernicusservices.
AnotherdecisivestepwasmadebyFrancewhodecidedtoprovideopenaccesstonon-commercialuseof27yearsofsatellitesimagesfromtheSPOTfamily.
12Airquality,atmosphericchemistry,biodiversity,Carbon,coastalzone,energy,forest,geohazards,globalagriculturemonitoring,healthandenvironment,watercycle13http://www.
wmo.
int/pages/prog/hwrp/chy/chy14/documents/ms/IGWCO.
pdf8TrendstowardsopenaccesstoEOdataarealsoobservedinAsiaandotherpartsoftheworld,suchasthefreeaccesstodatafromtheChinesepolar-orbitingmeteorologicalsatelliteFengyun-3,andtherecentdecisionbyJapantoguaranteefreeandunlimitedaccesstolowtomediumresolutionsatellitedataconstellationsoperatedbytheJapanAerospaceExplorationAgency(JAXA).
2.
2.
3DiscoveryofandaccesstoawideportfolioofEarthobservationdatasetsTheGEOSShasrecentlyreachedthetippingpointwhereusersarebeginningtoreapthebenefitsofGEOSSdata.
SeveralInformationTechnology(IT)componentshavebeenprogressivelyprototyped,deployedandinterconnectedbyGEOexpertstoconstitutethemainITarchitectureoftheGEOSSinformationsystemreferredtoastheGEOSSCommonInfrastructure(GCI).
Theuseofabrokertechnology,togetherwithsomeuser-supportandinteractionswithmorethan30majordataproviders,haveradicallyimprovedtheGEOSSperformancetoprovideaccesstodistributedandheterogeneousEOdatasourcesontheweb.
Fromonlyafewhundredsofthousandsin2012,thenumberofGEOSSdataresourceshasincreasedupto70millionin2014.
ThoseresourceslargelyconsistofsatelliteimagesplusotherEOdatarecords,documentsormaps.
Morethantwo-thirdsofthesedataresourcesareflaggedasbelongingtotheGEOSSData-CORE.
CurrentITarchitectureoftheGEOSSCommonInfrastructure(GCI)ThemaincomponentsoftheGCIinclude:TheGEOSSWebPortal(GWP)developedbyESAwhichisthewebinterfaceallowinganyusertosearchforandqueryGEOSSdatasets;TheDiscoveryandAccessBroker(DAB),developedbytheNationalResearchCouncilofItaly(CNR),theCommission'sJointResearchCentreandotherpartnersoftheFP7EuroGEOSSandGEOWOWprojects(annexeIII),whichprovidesharmonisedaccesstoheterogeneousdatasetsmadeavailablebydifferentcommunities;AsetofregistrieswhichallowmonitoringthetypeofresourcescontributedtotheGEOSS.
2.
2.
4CapacitybuildingincludingindevelopingcountriesTheGEOvisionaimstostrengthenthecapabilityofallcountriestouseEOdataandproducts.
Thisisparticularlyrelevanttodevelopingcountrieshavinglessmonitoringinfrastructures,investmentsorcapabilitiestoproduceandprocessEOdata.
TheGEOhasbeenabletomobiliseresourcesforregionalcapacitybuildingnetworksinanumberofdevelopingcountriesnotablyinAfrica,Asia,theBalkan,aroundtheBlackSeaandinSouthAmerica.
Typicalactionsincludedtheidentificationofrelevantstakeholders,buildingnetworks,providingtrainingande-trainingforlocalusers.
In2013,GEOhaslaunchedtheAfriGEOSSinitiative14toenhanceAfrica'sparticipationintheGEO.
BuildingonthecurrentGEOmembershipof22AfricancountriesandfiveParticipatingOrganisations,AfriGEOSSishelpingtostrengthenEOinfrastructuralcapabilitiesatcontinental,sub-regionalandnationalscales.
ItfederatesAfricaneffortstobridgethedigitaldivideonthiscontinentandtobuildaknowledge-basedeconomyusingGEOnetworksandtheGEOSS.
GEONETCast,theGEOSSglobalnetworkfordatabroadcastingviatelecommunicationsatellites,completesthewebcomponentsoftheGCI.
Itprovidesauser-friendlylow-costmeanstodeliverGEOSSdatainnearrealtimeinareaswhereusersdonotbenefitfromsatisfactoryinternetconnections.
TheGEONETCastsystem15resultsfromtheoutstanding14http://www.
earthobservations.
org/art_019_002.
shtml15http://www.
earthobservations.
org/geonetcast.
shtml9collaborationbetweentheEuropeanOrganisationfortheExploitationofMeteorologicalSatellites(EUMETSAT),theChinaMeteorologicalAdministration(CMA),theUnitedStates'NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)andtheWorldMeteorologicalOrganisation(WMO).
Thousandsofreceivingstationshavealreadybeendeployedtoallownearly6,000usersin169countriestoreceiveGEOSSdata,includingindevelopingcountries.
2.
3CurrentengagementoftheEUtowardstheGEOandtheGEOSS2.
3.
1.
BasisforEUactionCurrently,32nationalgovernmentsfromEurope(including26MemberStates)andtheCommissionparticipateintheGEOpartnershipintheirownright(annexeII).
TheCommission,inagreementwithallEuropeanGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisations,contributestotheGEOgovernanceasoneofthefourGEOco-chairstogetherwiththePeople'sRepublicofChina,SouthAfricaandtheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
EachGEOMemberbelongstooneofthefiveregionalGEOCaucus(Africa,Americas,AsiaandOceania,theCommonwealthofIndependentStates,andEurope).
TheCommissionholdsthispositionasco-chairfortheEuropeanGEOCaucus:agroupgatheringtheEuropeanGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisationswhoseexpertsandrepresentativesmeetseveraltimesayearintheGEOHighLevelWorkingGroup(HLWG)todevelopsomeEuropeanconvergencetowardstheGEOandtheGEOSS.
SeveralGEOMinisterialSummitshavebeenorganisedsince2005(annexeII),leadingtoaseriesofdeclarationsadoptedbyacclamation.
Whilehavingnolegally-bindingimplications,thesedeclarationsareconsistentwithandcoveredbypolicies,programmesandinitiativesalreadyagreedatEUlevel,suchas:theCommunicationfromtheCommissionof3March2010"Europe2020:astrategyforsmart,sustainableandinclusivegrowth"16anditsflagshipinitiativessuchasInnovationUnion17,theDigitalAgendaforEurope18andtheResource-efficientEurope19;Horizon2020,theEUFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandInnovation20;theCommunicationfromtheCommissionof4April2011"TowardsaspacestrategyfortheEuropeanUnionthatbenefitsitscitizens"21,theCommissionDelegatedRegulationonaccesstoGMESdataandinformation22andtheRegulation(EU)No377/2014oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilestablishingtheCopernicusProgramme;theDirective2007/2/EC23oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof14March2007establishinganInfrastructureforSpatialInformationintheEuropeanCommunity(INSPIRE);TheDirective2003/4/EC24oftheEuropeanParliamentoftheCouncilof28January2003onpublicaccesstoenvironmentalinformationandrepealingCouncilDirective90/313/EEC;TheDirective2003/98/EC25oftheEuropeanParliamentoftheCouncilof17November2003onthere-useofpublicsectorinformation,andtheDirective2013/37/EU26ofthe16COM(2010)2020final17COM(2010)546final18COM(2010)245final19COM(2011)21final20OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L347/104,20.
12.
2013,p.
10421COM(2011)152final22CommissionDelegatedRegulation(EU)No1159/2013,12.
07.
2013,p.
123OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L108,25.
04.
2007,p.
124OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L41/26,14.
02.
2003,p.
2610EuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof26June2013amendingDirective2003/98/EConthere-useofpublicsectorinformation;TheCommunicationfromtheCommissionof01February2008"TowardsaSharedEnvironmentalInformationSystem(SEIS)"27,theCommunicationfromtheCommissionof24July2009"MainstreamingsustainabledevelopmentintoEUpolicies:2009ReviewoftheEuropeanUnionStrategyforSustainableDevelopment"28andtheDecisionNo1386/2013/EUoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof20November2013onaGeneralUnionEnvironmentActionProgrammeto2020'Livingwell,withinthelimitsofourplanet'29;theCommunicationfromtheCommissionof16April2013on"AnEUStrategyonadaptationtoclimatechange30;theCommunicationfromtheCommissionof12December2011on"Opendata,anengineforinnovation,growthandtransparentgovernance"31;theCommunicationfromtheCommissionof4November2008on"Therawmaterialsinitiative—meetingourcriticalneedsforgrowthandjobsinEurope32andtheCommunicationfromtheCommissionof2February2011on"Tacklingthechallengesincommoditymarketsandonrawmaterials"33;TheCommunicationfromtheCommissionof8September2010on"MarineKnowledge2020:marinedataandobservationforsmartandsustainablegrowth"34andtheDirective2008/56/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof17June2008establishingaframeworkforcommunityactioninthefieldofmarineenvironmentalpolicy(MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective)35.
ItisimportanttonotethattwoEUprogrammesmakeexplicitreferencestotheGEOortheGEOSS:theHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeandtheCopernicusprogramme.
BasisforEUactivitiesinsupporttoGEOthroughtheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeTheHorizon2020SpecificProgramme36referstoGEOasamultilateralinitiativewhereinternationalcooperationmaybedeveloped.
Inaddition,theHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammecallsforactivitiesthatcannotbeefficientlyundertakenbyMemberStatesactingaloneandwhereUnionaddedvalueandimpactshallbemaximised.
CommitmentstoGEOareevidenced,interalia,bythefollowingstatements:Inthe3rdPartoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme,theSocietalChallengeon'Climateaction,resourceefficiencyandrawmaterials'statesthat"[European]Unionlevelactionswillalsosupportrelevantinternationaleffortsandinitiatives,including.
.
.
.
theGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)".
ThisSocietalChallengeincludesanactivityon"Developingcomprehensiveandsustainedglobalenvironmentalobservationandinformationsystems";Inthe2ndPartoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme,thepriorityon'Leadershipinenablingindustrialtechnologies'makesreferencetoactivitiesaimingatenablingexploitationofspacedata.
Itisstatedthat"theseactivitiescanalsocontributetotacklingsocietalchallenges,inparticularifcoordinatedinaglobaleffortsuchasthroughtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS),namelybyfullyexploitingtheCopernicusprogrammeasitsmain25OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L345/90,31.
12.
2003,p.
9026OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L175/1,27.
06.
2013,p.
127COM(2008)46final28COM(2009)400final29OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L354/171,28.
12.
2013,p.
17130COM(2013)216final31COM(2011)882final32COM(2008)699final33COM(2011)25final34COM(2010)461final35OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L164/19,25.
6.
2008,p.
1936Regulation(EU)No1290/2013oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof11December2013layingdowntherulesforparticipationanddisseminationin"Horizon2020-theFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandInnovation(2014-2020)"andrepealingRegulation(EC)No1906/2006OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L347,20.
12.
2013,p.
8111Europeancontribution(…)".
BasisforEUactivitiesinsupporttoGEOinrelationtotheEUSpacePolicyTheCommunicationfromtheCommissiontowardsaSpaceStrategyfortheEuropeanUnionthatbenefitsitscitizens37statesthat:"AsregardsEarthobservation,EuropeiscloselyinvolvedindevelopingtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS)internationalinitiative.
TheCommissionwillthereforecontinuetomakethenecessaryeffortstoimplementmechanismsforsharingearthobservationdatainEurope,subjecttotheacceptanceofsuchmechanismsbyGEOMembers".
TheRegulation(EU)No377/2014of3April2014establishingtheCopernicusProgrammerestatesthat"CopernicusshouldbeconsideredasaEuropeancontributiontobuildingtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS)developedwithintheframeworkoftheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)".
2.
3.
2.
CostimplicationTherenewedcommitmentforGEOthrough2025hasnolegallybindingbudgetaryimplicationfortheEUsinceGEOwillcontinuetobebasedonvoluntarycontributions.
MostoftheresourcessupportingtheimplementationoftheGEOandtheGEOSScontinuetobeprovidedthroughexistingnationalandinternationalmechanismsandvoluntarycontributionsmadeonabesteffortbasisbytheGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisations.
ExperiencehasshownthatGEOSSimplementationreliessignificantly,thoughnotexclusively,onin-kindcontributionssuchasobservingcapacities,networks,expertise,stafftime,interoperabilityarrangementsandstandards,datasets,informationsystems,services,projectsandprogrammes.
PursuanttotheRegulation(EU)No377/2014oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof3April2014establishingtheCopernicusprogrammeandrepealingRegulation(EU)No911/201038,CopernicusshouldbeconsideredasaEuropeancontributiontobuildingtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS)developedwithintheframeworkoftheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO).
WithanEUinvestmentofupto4.
2billionforCopernicus,theMultiannualFinancialFrameworkoftheEUsustainstheoperationalphaseofthisprogrammefortheperiod2014-2020.
Inaddition,somemechanismshavebeenforeseenintheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammetosupporttheGEOfinanciallyduringthesameperiod2014-2020.
ThesemechanismsareembeddedwithinHorizon2020multi-annualworkprogrammesandconsisteitherofcallsforproposalswithexpectedimpactontheEuropeancontributiontoGEOandGEOSS,orofannualsubscriptionstocontributetotheactivitiesoftheGEOSecretariat.
Forinstance,theWorkProgramme2014-2015oftheHorizon2020SocietalChallengeonClimateaction,environment,resourceefficiencyandrawmaterials39foreseesatotalEUbudgetofabout48MiotobeinvestedforactivitiesdirectlyrelatedtoGEO.
AsafullGEOMember,theCommissionhasalsoforeseentocontinuepayinganannualsubscriptionin2014and2015onbehalfoftheEUtotheGEOTrustFund.
ThisFundisthebudgetarystructureagreedbytheGEOMemberstofundbaselineactivitiesbytheGEOSecretariat.
SuchsubscriptionscorrespondtosubscriptionstoabodyofwhichtheCommissionisamember,accordingtoArticle121(2)(d)oftheFinancialRegulationapplicabletothegeneralbudgetoftheEuropeanCommunities.
TheindicativeannualcontributionbytheCommissiontotheGEOTrustFundin2014and2015isintherangeof800,000.
37COM(2011)152final38OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L122,24.
04.
2014,p.
4439http://ec.
europa.
eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-climate_en.
pdf122.
3.
3.
ExamplesofEuropeancontributions-ContributiontowardsaEuropeanleadershipinGEOTheCommissionhasbeenamongsttheearlymembersofthe'ad-hocGEO'whichhasconceivedtheGEOintheperiod2003-2004beforeitsformalinception.
Since2005,theCommissionhasbeenoneofthefourGEOco-chairsonbehalfoftheEuropeanGEOCaucus.
TheCommissionisalsoco-chairingseveralGEOgroupssuchastheDataSharingWorkingGroup,theDataManagementTaskForceandtheInfrastructureImplementationBoard.
IthasparticipatedinotherstrategicGEOgroupssuchastheMinisterialWorkingGroup,theGEOPost-2015WorkingGroupandtheSocietalBenefitsImplementationBoard.
Overthelastdecade,theCommissionhasprovidedsignificantinputintothedevelopmentofofficialdocumentsincludingthecurrent10-yearImplementationPlanandthesuccessiveGEOWorkPlans.
TheCommissionisinvolvedinseveralGEOtasksoftheGEOWorkPlan2012-2015,eitherdirectlyorthroughEU-fundedEuropeanresearchconsortia.
Intheperiod2012-2013,theCommissionhasbeenengagingwithdataprovidersofseveralGEOMembersacrosstheglobeinordertofacilitatetheregistrationofdatasetsintheGEOSSandpromotetheGEOSSData-COREconcept.
TheCommissionisalsoactivelyworkingonlegalinteroperabilityissues,hasbeenco-leadingthedevelopmentoftheGEOSSDataSharingActionPlanandisco-leadingtheongoingrevisionoftheGEOSSdatasharingprinciples.
ThroughchairingandprovidingsecretariatsupporttotheHLWGEuropeanexperts'group,theCommissionisalsoeasingamorecoherentEuropeancontributiontotheGEOSS.
-ContributiontotheimplementationoftheGEOSSviaFP7Morethan200MiohavebeeninvestedbytheEUovertheperiod2007-2013toGEOSS-relatedresearchandinnovationactivitieswithintheSeventhFrameworkProgrammeforCommunityresearch(FP7).
ThebiggestandmostdirectFP7contributiontoGEOSScamefromtheEnvironmentTheme(includingglobalchange)undertheCooperationProgramme.
Thisinvestmenthasallowedfundingabout50FP7collaborativeprojectsthathavedirectlysupportedtheimplementationoftheGEOSS10-yearImplementationPlanviaconcretecontributionstoseveraltasksoftheGEOWorkPlan,includingkeycomponentsoftheGEOSSCommonInfrastructure.
ThisinvestmenthashadtheeffectofpromotingtheGEOvisionwithintheEuropeanresearchcommunityandtoattractparticipationinthisGEOundertakingbymorethan400organisationsfrom37countriesincludingtheMemberStatesandothercountriesassociatedtoFP7.
ThisFP7investmenthasbeenpresentedasanexampleofgoodpracticetootherfundingpartiesoftheGEOcommunity.
IthasgiventotheEUaninfluentialroleinthedevelopmentofEO-basedsolutionstoaddressglobalchallenges.
-ContributiontotheuseofGEOSSinAfricaviadevelopmentcooperationDuringthelastdecadeseveralregionalandnationalAfricaninstitutionshaveacquiredcapacitiesfortheexploitationofEOdatathankstoEuropeaneffortsintheEOfieldtosupportsustainabledevelopmentinAfrica.
ThiswasimplementedinparticularthroughAfricaninitiatives,actionsoftheEuropeanDevelopmentFundsuchasthePUMA,AMESDandMESA40projects,aswellastheESAcoordinatedTIGERinitiative41(since2002)andseveralprojectsfundedbytheEUFrameworkProgrammesforresearchandinnovation.
Thisbuild-upofcapacityhasalsobeenfacilitatedbyanincreasingdemandfromtheAfricandecisionmakers40MESA:MonitoringofEnvironmentandSecurityinAfricaprogramme,http://www.
hd-mesa.
org/41http://www.
tiger.
esa.
int/13forrelevantinformationforclimateandenvironmentalmonitoringaswellastoascertainhumansecurityandstabilityoflivelihoods.
ApartnershipbetweenAfricanandEuropeanstakeholdersandaframeworkinAfricaforEOapplicationshavebeenestablishedthroughtheGMESandAfricainitiativelaunchedinLisbon(Portugal)duringthe2ndEU-AfricaSummitofDecember2007.
Doingso,GMES&Africahasallowedidentifyingprioritythematicareas(marineandcoastalareas,water,naturalresourcesmanagement)foranextensionoftheGMES/CopernicusinitiativetoAfrica.
ThisongoingworkcontributesdirectlytoseveralGEOsocietalchallenges(climate,weather,water,agricultureandecosystems)andtheachievementoftheAfriGEOSSobjectives.
-ContributiontoGEOsecretariatoperationsviatheGEOTrustFundOvertheperiod2005-2012,theEUhascontributedabout6,5MilliontotheGEOTrustFund,thusbringingessentialsupporttothefunctioningoftheGEOSecretariatandrelatedactivities.
Thisrepresentsmorethan30%oftotalcashcontributionsgivenbytheGEOcommunitytotheTrustFundoverthatperiod42.
Thisfigurehoweverdoesnotincludein-kindcontributionsprovidedbyChina,SouthAfrica,andtheUSAintheformofstaffsecondmentsororganisationofPlenaryandMinisterialevents.
Nordoesitincludefinancialsupport(about150,000)providedbytheCommissionfordevelopingcountryparticipantsinGEOrelatedmeetingssince2005.
2.
4TowardsarenewedGEOSSImplementationPlanfor2016-2025Withtheapproachingterm(in2015)ofthecurrent10-yearGEOmandate,governmentsfromallGEOMembercountriesandleadersfromtheGEOParticipatingOrganisationshavebeeninvitedearlythisyeartoextendtheirsupporttoGEOthrough2025.
On17January2014,theministersandotherheadsofdelegationsassembledattheGEOSummitinGeneva(CH)renewedtheGEOmandatefortheperiod2016till2025.
Thisdecisiontorenew,formalisedintheGenevaMinisterialDeclaration43,isaccompaniedbytherequesttodevelopanew10-yearImplementationPlan(2016-2025)toimprovetheeffectivenessoftheGEOactionandensurethattheaimsandambitionsofthedeclarationbecomeareality.
TheprocessleadingtothedevelopmentofsuchaPlanwasinitiatedinMarch2014withtheestablishmentoftheGEOSSImplementationPlanWorkingGroup(IPWG),agroupofexpertsnominatedbythevariousGEOcaucuses.
TheIPWGhasundertakenthepreparationofadraftImplementationPlanforacceptancebytheGEOPlenaryattheendof2015andforsubsequentendorsementatthenextGEOMinisterialSummitcurrentlyforeseenfortheperiodNovember2015-January2016.
ThenewImplementationPlanislikelytobuildupontheoptionsandscenariosforthenextphaseofGEOSSimplementationreportedin2013bythePost-2015workinggroupandupontheoutputsofthe2014GEOMinisterialSummit.
TheIPWGisengagingwiththevariousGEOBoards,GroupsandTaskForcesforspecificelementsoftheImplementationPlan,aswellaswiththebroadstakeholdercommunity.
42Groupofexperts'Report"AssessmentoftheAchievementsoftheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO):AEuropeanUnionPerspective",underassignmentbytheEuropeanCommission,May201443TheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)GenevaDeclarationof17January2014http://www.
earthobservations.
org/documents/ministerial/geneva/MS6_The_Geneva_Declaration.
pdf142.
5ConsultationresultsAspartoftheCommissionapproachtoinvestigatethefutureoftheGEOandtheGEOSS,aconsultationoftheEuropeanGEOMembercountriesandParticipatingOrganisationshasbeenconductedbytheCommissionviaaquestionnaireintheperiodMaytoSeptember2013(annexeVII).
TheCommissionhasalsoconvenedagroupofexternalEuropeanexpertsinthesecondsemesterof2013toassessandreportontheachievementsandbenefitsthathaveaccruedtoEuropeandtheEUfromtheCommissioninvolvementinGEOsince2005(annexeVI).
Themainstrengthsweaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsrelatedtotheGEOandtheGEOSSthatcameoutoftheseconsultationsandexternalexperts'analysisaresummarisedinthefigurebelowandfurtherdescribedinannexeVI.
StrengthsWeaknessesUniqueintergovernmentalandvoluntarynatureoftheGEOpartnership:linkingdirectlythescientificandtechnicallevelstothepoliticallevelwhilepreservingflexibility,adaptabilityandreactivityGEOvoluntaryapproach:riskofsoftenedlevelsofresourcecommitments,especiallyinthisperiodofpressuresonpublicbudgets;generallackofalternativefundingschemesandincashcontributionsGEOvisionandGEOinternationalinitiatives:federatingcommunitiesandEOactivitiesandfosteringmultilateralandmultidisciplinarycollaborationsacrossglobalsocietalchallengesGEOimpact:difficultytoassessimpactduetodelaysinimplementationandhistoricalfocusondatasupplyratherthandatause;toofewexamplesoftrans-disciplinaryproductsusedforimproveddecision-makingGEOSSdatasharingprinciples:promotingfullandopendatasharingandinspiringGEOMembersCommunicationontheGEOaddedvalue:GEOisstillperceivedasco-optingpre-existingEO-relatedinitiativesGEOasadriverforresearchandinnovation:isauniquediscussionforumforthewholeenvironmentalobservationscommunityGEOandtheprivatesector:todate,theprivatesectorhasbenefittedverylittlefromtheGEOSS;consultationhavebeentoolimited;anoverallframeworkforengagingtheprivatesectoronalevelplayingfieldismissingThesystemofsystemsGEOSS:providesaccesstodistributedEOportalswhilerespectingtheirmandateandautonomy;uniqueattempttoprovideaccesstoallkinds(multi-disciplinary,remotesensingandin-situ)ofEOdataGEOsynergieswithUNprogrammesandagencies:notsufficientlydevelopedVisibilityandleverageeffectatglobalstagethroughtheGEO:GEOisalevertoexistingEO-relatedinfrastructures,programmes,projects,andactivities,itreinforcesinternationalstandingofitsmajorcontributorsOpportunitiesThreatsTherenewedGEOmandate2016-2025:existingpoliticalmomentumThenextGEOSS10-YearImplementationPlan:possibilityforGEOadaptationandevolutioninthelightofnewraisingpolitical,institutional,scientific,andtechnicalchallengesFutureGEOWorkPlans:provideopportunitiesforinfluencingEOglobalagendasFuturecommitmentsbyGEOMembercountriesandParticipatingOrganisations:mightbeimpactedbythegeneralpressureonpublicbudgetsworldwideGEOcommunitiesofpracticeandinternationalinitiatives:provideopportunitiesforconsolidatinguserrequirementsfattheglobalscaleandforproducingorbenchmarkingreferenceEOdatasetsofglobalreferenceGEOSScore-functionalitiesinthelong-term(apre-requisiteforattractingthebusinesssector):willrequireatransitionfromprototypingtooperations,aswellassecuredlong-termcommitmentsforwhichavoluntaryapproachmightbelessadaptedGEOSSdatasharingandmanagementprinciples:bringopportunitiesforinnovationangrowth,stimulatingaglobalEOmarketplaceandtocontributingtothedigitaleconomyoftomorrowConsensusbuildingonthenext10-yearImplementationPlan:willhavetoaccommodatemoreconservativeandmoreinnovativeviewscirculatingamongsttheGEOcommunityDigitalrevolutionandtheinternetofthings:bringhugepotentialforinnovativeusesofEOdataandproductsGEOpositioningontheinternationallandscapeofEOinitiatives:needtocommunicateonthecomplementarityandtobuildpartnershipswithanincreasingnumberofotherinitiativesrelatedtoenvironmentaldataTheCopernicusprogramme:providesakeyopportunitytoconsolidatetheEUcontributiontotheGEOSSandtopositiontheEuropeanEOindustryontheglobalstageTheHorizon2020programme:foreseesspecificresearchandinnovationcontributionstotheGEOandtheGEOSSSetoffactorscharacterisingtoday'sGEOandtheGEOSS(arisingfromexternalconsultations).
153.
CHALLENGESAHEAD3.
1.
TimelinessforadebateinEuropeConsideringtheGEOstateofplaypresentedintheprevioussectionandtheongoingprocesstowardsthefutureimplementationoftheGEOSSthrough2025,theperiod2014-2015representsauniquewindowofopportunityfortheEUtoassessandreviewitspositionregardingGEO.
TheEUcouldpossiblyaddresstheissueofitscontributionduringthenextGEOdecadeandreflectonarenewedapproachtothefutureevolutionoftheGEOSS.
Suchanapproachwouldrequireansweringkeyquestionssuchasthefollowing.
DoestheEUwishtomaintainorreinforceitspositionasadrivingforceinglobalEarthobservationShouldtheEUprofileintherenewedGEOberaisedornotHowshouldEuropeanGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganizationsenhanceGEOSSbenefitstoEuropeansocietythrough2025Answeringthesequestionswouldrequiretakingfullconsiderationofthestrengths,weaknesses,threatsandopportunitiesdescribedinsection2.
5.
SuchadebatecouldbeparticularlytimelynowthattheCopernicusprogramme(2014-2020),hasenteredinoperationsandthattheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme(2014-2020)bringsnewinstrumentsandopportunitiesfordevelopingcomprehensiveandsustainedglobalenvironmentalobservationandinformationsystems.
3.
2GEOprospectsofinteresttotheEUConsultationsinannexesVIandVIIdemonstratetheinitialmotivationsbytheCommissionandtheotherEuropeanGEOMemberstojointheGEOcontinuetobevalid.
TheypointtowardfourmainGEOprospectsofinteresttotheEU.
TheyalsoindicatethattheGEOcoulddelivermoretotheEUduringthenextdecadeifGEOsucceedsinimplementingamorerobustanduser-orientedGEOSS.
3.
2.
1EU'sinternationalstandingtocollaborateonEOandtackleglobalchallengesManyofthemajorsocietalchallengesthatconfrontEuropetodayareglobalinnaturesuchasclimatechange,pressureonnaturalresources,foodsecurity,interactionsbetweentheenvironmentandhumanhealth,thereductioningreenhousegasemissionsandtheincreasedshareofrenewableenergies.
TheEurope2020Strategy44recognisesthattheseglobalchallengesdointensifyandcallsfortheEUtoactjointlyinordertoinfluenceglobalpolicydecisionsrelatedtosuchlong-termchallenges.
TheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentinJohannesburg(SouthAfrica)highlightedalreadyin2002,theurgentneedforcoordinatedobservationstoprovideinformationrelatingtothestateoftheEarth.
Thereport45oftheUnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopmentofJune2012inRiodeJaneiro(Brazil)explicitlyrecognizestheGEOeffortsindevelopingglobalenvironmentalobservingsystems.
Inadditiontoinvestinginandtakingadvantageofitsworld-classEOoperationalprogrammes,organisations,andresearchinfrastructures(annexesIVandV),Europehasestablishedandcontinuestodevelopstrategicpartnershipswithkeyplayersontheglobalstageinordertoaddressglobaldatagapsjointly.
44COM(2010)2020final45http://www.
uncsd2012.
org/content/documents/814UNCSD%20REPORT%20final%20revs.
pdf16ConsultedEuropeanexpertsconfirmintheirreport(annexeVI)that"EU'sincreasingcontributionto,androlein,theinternationalEOarenaislargelyconfiguredwithinthecontextofitsactiveinvolvementinGEO".
Furthermore,theystressonthelinkexistingbetweentheCommissioncommitmenttoGEOandtheimprovedvisibilityandinfluencethattheEUcangainontheinternationalsceneregardingthedevelopmentofsolutionstoaddressglobalchallenges.
WhenconsultingtheHLWG(annexeVII),theCommissionhascollectedevidencethatEuropeanGEOMembers,aswellasseveralEuropeanParticipatingOrganisations,havealreadybenefitedfromtheGEOtoreinforcetheirinfluenceandreputationatgloballevel.
ItisnotsurprisingthenthatEuropeanorganisationssuchastheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA),theEuropeanOrganisationfortheExploitationofMeteorologicalSatellites(EUMETSAT),theEuropeanCentreforMedium-RangeWeatherForecasts(ECMWF),theEuropeanEnvironmentAgency(EEA)ortheGeologicalSurveysofEurope(EuroGeoSurveys)haveallbecomeactiveGEOParticipatingOrganisations.
3.
2.
2AchievingEUpolicygoalswiththeGEOSSTheGEOSSisprogressivelyremovingbarrierstothediscoveryandaccessofEarthobservationswhich,whenprocessedandcombinedwithotherdata,couldbeverycomplementarytotheclassicalEuropeandatastreamscurrentlyusedforEUpolicymaking.
Intheirassessmentreport(annexeVI),theconsultedEuropeanexpertsaffirmthatacontinuedEUengagementintheGEOinitiative-mostspecificallyviatheCommission-willcontinuetoresultinbenefitsfortheEurope2020StrategyandtotheimplementationofvariousEUpolicies.
MakinganexhaustivereviewofpossibleGEObenefitsforeachandanypolicyoftheEUwouldgobeyondthescopeofthisdocument.
Instead,thefollowingcasesaregivenasillustrationsofthepotentialGEOvaluetoEUpolicies.
-EUResearchandInnovationPolicyTheGEOhaspromotedandwillcontinuetofacilitateinternationalresearchcollaboration,networkingandprojects.
GEOwillcontinuetriggeringcross-cuttingresearchactivitiesacrossdisciplinesandsocietalchallengesandbridgingthegapbetweenscienceandapplications.
AsreflectedintheGEOWorkPlan2012-201546,typicalresearchandinnovationactivitiesdrivenbytheGEOSSimplementationincludeimprovedmonitoringstrategiesandtechnologies,improveddatamanagementpracticesandinformationsystems,theprovisionofessentialvariables,theexploitationofGEOSSdatatoimprovescientificunderstanding,modelling,predictionandforecasting,toperformriskassessmentsorcontributetoenvironmentalindicators,thedevelopmentofpre-operationalEO-basedservicesandapplications.
TheconsultationsalsorevealsomeGEO-inducedopportunitiesforabetteralignmentofresearchandinnovationagendasatnationalandregionallevels,notablyalongsustainabledevelopmentobjectives.
-EUSpacePolicyEarthobservationfromspace,hasbecomeanareaofEUcompetencesincetheLisbonTreaty.
TheCopernicusprogramme,whichisapillaroftheEUSpacePolicy,hasenteredinoperationwiththerecentadoptionoftheCopernicusRegulation377/2014bytheEUParliamentandCouncil.
ThisRegulationnotablystatesthatCopernicuswillbesupportingandcontributingtoEuropeanpoliciesandfosteringglobalinitiatives,includingGEOSS.
WhileCopernicusrepresentsamajorEuropeancontributiontotheGEOSS,GEOrepresentsauniqueplatformtodeveloptheinternationaldimensionofCopernicus,notablywithregardstotheopenexchangeofEOdataandinformation,aswellastheaccesstootherobservation46http://www.
earthobservations.
org/geoss_imp.
php17infrastructures.
InordertopromotetheiruseandtostrengthenbusinessesinthefieldofEarthobservation,Copernicusdataandinformationwillbemadeavailableonafree,full,andopenbasis,subjecttoappropriateconditionsandlimitationsdefinedintheCommissionDelegatedRegulation(EU)No1159/2013.
WiththeCopernicusRegulationadopted,itstwofirstoperationalCopernicusservicesoperational(theEmergencyManagementandtheLandMonitoringServices)andthefirstsatelliteoftheseriesofSentinelslaunchedinApril2014,theEUcontributiontotheGEOSSisgoingtoexpandsignificantlyoverthenextdecade.
Asreportedbytheconsultedexperts(annexeVI),thefullandtimelyimplementationoftheCopernicusProgrammewillcontributeconsiderablytothesuccessfulimplementationoftheGEOSS,whileGEOprovidesaninternationalco-ordinatingplatformthroughwhichtheEUCopernicusprogrammecanbeleveraged.
AllconsultationsconfirmtheimportanceofenhancinglinksandcollaborationbetweenCopernicusandGEO.
-EUClimateandEnergyPoliciesGEOcansupporttheEUClimatePolicythroughsustainingtheGlobalClimateObservingSystem(GCOS47)anddeliveringmorecomprehensiveandreliablemeasurementsoftheEssentialClimateVariables48neededbyseveralinternationalclimateinitiativessuchastheWorldClimateResearchProgramme(WCRP49),theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimatechange(IPCC50)andtheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC51).
ScientificassessmentsoftheclimateevolutionresultingfromsuchinitiativeshelpEUandotherinternationaleffortstowardsreducingemissions,inlinewiththeagreedglobalobjectivetokeepglobaltemperatureincreasebelow2°C.
GEOcansupporttheEUadaptationpolicythroughfillingknowledgegapsonclimatechangeimpactsandvulnerability.
Withabetterunderstandingofthechangingclimate,policy-makersatEU,nationalandevenlocallevelcouldgetbetterpreparedandreduceimpactofclimatechange.
GEOcouldalsohelpcomparingtheeffectsofclimatechangeintheEUwiththoseobservedinotherregionsoftheworldandsupportadaptationeffortsbytheEUconductedabroad.
Inthecontextofitssocietalchallengeonclimate,GEOcouldhelpinthecoordinationandfostervariousinitiativesaimingatdevelopingclimateservicesincludingtheEUCopernicusClimateChangeService52ortheUNGlobalFrameworkforClimateServices(GFCS53).
GEOcouldbecomeamajorsourceofglobalreferencedataandinformationinsupporttothedevelopmentofanEUmarketforClimateServices.
Suchdataandinformationcouldtriggerthedevelopmentofnewcustomisedinformationandapplicationsforenduserscommunitiessuchasfarmersforexample.
TheEuropeanclimateadaptationplatform54(Climate-ADAPT),hostedbytheEuropeanEnvironmentAgency,couldthenplayaroleindisseminatingsuchinformationtoitsfinalusers.
TheGEOCARBONinternationalinitiative(annexesIIandIII)mightproduceadditionalinformationoncarbonpoolsandfluxes,rangingfromglobaltoregionalscales,withincreasedresolutionandaccuracyandreduceduncertainty.
TheGlobalForestObservationInitiative(GFOI)(annexeII)isexpectedtocontinuepromotingthewiderdeploymentofamonitoringcapabilitytoestimatechangesincarbonstocksandreportonforestareasandgreenhousegasemissions.
47http://www.
wmo.
int/pages/prog/gcos/index.
phpname=AboutGCOS48http://www.
wmo.
int/pages/prog/gcos/index.
phpname=EssentialClimateVariables49http://www.
wcrp-climate.
org/50http://www.
ipcc.
ch/51http://unfccc.
int/52http://www.
copernicus.
eu/pages-principales/services/climate-change/53http://www.
gfcs-climate.
org/54http://climate-adapt.
eea.
europa.
eu/18GEOcouldalsohelpmovingfurthertowardsalowcarboneconomybypromotingtheuseofEarthobservationsbytheenergysectorsforimprovedpredictionofpotentialhazardstoenergyinfrastructuresandbettermappingofrenewableenergypotentials(seetheexampleofEnerGEOinannexeIII).
AspartoftheStrategicEnergyTechnologyPlan(SET-Plan),theCommissionhaslaunchedsixEuropeanIndustrialInitiatives(EIIs)onwind,solar,carboncaptureandstorage,electricitygrids,bioenergyandnuclearfission.
BettersynergiesbetweentheroadmapsoftheseEIIsandfutureGEOtaskscouldbeveryusefulfortheEU.
-EUEnvironmentalandSustainableDevelopmentPoliciesTheEUStrategyonBiodiversityisexpectedtocontinuebenefitingoverthelongtermfromtheGEOBONinternationalinitiative(annexesII.
5andIII).
GEOBONisasuccessfulexampleofgovernmental,inter-governmentalandnon-governmentalorganisationsjoiningforcestohelpimplementingtheinternationalConventiononBiologicalDiversity.
Theycollaboratetoimproveterrestrial,freshwaterandmarinebiodiversityobservationsgloballyandmaketheiressentialdataandforecastsmorereadilyaccessible.
GEOplaysapivotalroleintheimplementationofaglobalstandardisedecosystemclassificationsystemandmapthatcouldserveasabasisformoredetailedinventoriesofmajorecosystemsandtheprotectedareas.
GEOhasalsotheobjectivetosupportinthefutureawide-rangingEOcapabilitytomonitorecosystemsandthehumanimpactsonthem,toimprovetheassessment,protectionandsustainablemanagementofterrestrial,coastalandmarineresourcesandthedeliveryofassociatedecosystemservices.
TheimplementationoftheDirective2000/60/EC55oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof23October2000establishingaframeworkforCommunityactioninthefieldofwaterpolicycouldbenefitfromfutureGEOactivitiestoimproveaccesstoinsituandspaceobservationstobeusedtoderiveadded-valueinformationaboutthewatercycleonmultiplescales,theassessmentoffloodsanddroughtsrisksandamoreintegratedmanagementofworld'swaterresources.
TherolethatGEOSScouldplayinsustainabledevelopmentpolicy-makingwasspecificallyrecognisedintheRio+20Declaration56entitled'thefuturewewant'.
TheGEOSScouldprovidethegeospatiallyreferencedenvironmentalandsocio-economicdatanecessarytoanalysethecomplexinteractionsbetweenhumanactivitiesandtheEarthsystem.
TheGEOcouldprovidestable,reliableandlong-termoperationsoftheEOnetworksandsystemsrequiredtofulfilinternationalenvironmentaltreatyobligationsandachievetheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.
TheGEOandtheGEOSScouldalsobringaddedvaluebyimprovingenvironmentalspatialdatainfrastructuresandinformationsystemsinEurope.
InthecontextoftheimplementationoftheDirective2007/2/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof14March2007establishinganInfrastructureforSpatialInformationintheEuropeanCommunity(INSPIRE)57,Europehasaccumulatedahugeexperienceinfacilitating'systemofsystems'inamultilingualcontextwhichishighlyrelevanttotheGEOSSimplementation.
DataharmonisationthroughinteroperabletransformationservicescanbecomeamajorINSPIREcontributiontotheevolutionoftheGEOSS.
Viceversa,GEO,whichiscurrentlyelaboratingcommonGEOSSDataManagementPrinciplesondatapreservation,distributionanddataqualitydocumentation,couldbringtotheinternationalstagesomerecommendationsresultingfromtheINSPIREcontext.
55OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L327,22.
12.
2000,p.
156http://www.
un.
org/disabilities/documents/rio20_outcome_document_complete.
pdf57OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L108/1,25.
04.
2007,p.
119-EUMarineandMaritimePolicyTheEUpolicyinitiativecalled"MarineKnowledge2020"58iscoordinatingeffortsmadeinEuropetomonitorthemostsignificantmarineparametersinEuropeanseas.
CentraltothisinitiativearetheEuropeanMarineObservationandDataNetwork(EMODnet)59whichassemblemarinedata,dataproductsandmetadatafromdiversesourcesandtheCopernicusMarineService(annexeIV).
Currently,thisinitiativeprovidesalimitednumberofgatewaystoprovidewebaccesstothemostsignificantcollectedparameters.
GEOSScouldfacilitateaninternationaldimensionfortheMarineKnowledge2020initiativebyenablinginteroperabilitywithglobalEarthobservationsystemssuchastheGlobalOceanObservingsystem(GOOS60).
ThiscouldbringbenefitstoEuropethroughtheprovisionofnon-EuropeandatathatmayimpactonforecastsorthehealthofEuropeanseas.
Thiswasreflectedinapublicconsultation61ontheMarineKnowledge2020initiativeconductedbytheCommissionin2012.
TheGEOBluePlanetinternationalInitiativecouldfacilitatetheEUIntegratedMaritimePolicy62andtheEuropeanMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective63throughestablishingbettersynergieswithoceanobservationprogrammesexistingworldwide.
GEOpromotesthefullandopendiscoveryandaccesstooceanobservationsandfacilitatesinteroperableexchangeofoceanobservations.
TheseaspectsaredrivingforthcomingresearchandinnovationactivitiestodeployanIntegratedAtlanticOceanObservingSystem(IAOOS)buildingonexistingcapacitiesonbothsideoftheAtlantic64.
-EUDevelopmentPolicyGEOfacilitatesthedevelopmentofenhancedcapacitiesfortheuseofEOdatasetsinanumberofdevelopingcountries.
IntheirassessmentoftheGEO(annexeVI),theexpertsnotethattheEUisalreadystronglyengagedincapacitybuildingglobally,notablyinrelationtoachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).
TheystresshowwellpositionedistheEUtopossiblydevelopfurthercapacitybuildinginitiativesinrelationtotheGEO,withacontinuousfocusonAfricaandtheMediterraneanregion.
OntheoccasionoftherecentEU-AfricaSummit2014,EUandAfricanleadershaveadoptedaroadmaptoframeEU-Africarelationsfor2014-201765.
UnderthePriorityareaonGlobalandemergingissuesofthisroadmap,theneedtoestablishacoherentframeworkforthedevelopmentofEOactivitiesinAfricaispointedout.
EU-AfricancooperationisforeseeninlinewiththeprioritiesoftheAfricaSpacePolicyandStrategyandtheAfriGEOSSinitiative,inordertodeliverservicesinprioritydomainsforAfricasuchasfoodsecurityandhealth.
AspartofAfrica'scontributiontoGEO,theroadmapfurtherspecifiesastrengthenedAfricancapacitytomonitorenvironmentandsecurityinAfricaespeciallyregardingmarineandcoastalareas,waterresourcesandnaturalresourcesmanagement.
Inthemarginsofthe4thEU-AfricaSummit,theAfricanUnionCommissionandtheCommissionhavesignedaCooperativeArrangementonGMESandAfricarelatedtotheimplementationoftheabove58http://ec.
europa.
eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/marine_knowledge_2020/index_en.
htm59http://www.
emodnet.
eu/60http://www.
ioc-goos.
org/61http://ec.
europa.
eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/consultations/marine-knowledge-2020/outcome_en.
pdf62http://ec.
europa.
eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/index_en.
htm63OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L164/19,25.
6.
2008,p.
1964Horizon2020'BlueGrowth'call2014,topicBG8:Developingin-situAtlanticOceanObservationsforabettermanagementandexploitationofthemaritimeresources65http://www.
european-council.
europa.
eu/eu-africa-summit-2014lang=en20threeprioritythematicareas.
AstudyisongoingfortheidentificationandformulationoftheGMES&AfricaprojecttobefundedbythePanAfricanProgram66.
-EUHumanitarianandcivilprotectionpoliciesTheGEOSScouldfurthercontributetoEUhumanitarianpolicyandhelpcivilprotectionagenciesbyprovidingtimelyaccesstoEOdataofrelevancetothefullcycleofdisastermanagement.
Thiswouldhelpbuildingtheresilienceofnationsandcommunitiestonaturaldisasters,crisessituationsandcatastrophicevents.
SomeachievementshavealreadybeenreportedbytheGEOduringtheGEOMinisterialSummitearlythisyear.
TheAdvancedFireInformationSystem(AFIS),forinstanceisthefirstnear-realtimesatellitefiremonitoringsystemdevelopedforSouthernAfricancountries.
TheCaribbeanSatelliteDisasterPilothasprovidedarangeofimagemapsduringthe2010to2013hurricaneseasonsinaffectedregionsbefore,duringandafterdisasters.
TheInternationalCharter'Space&MajorDisasters'hasbeenfurtherpromotedbytheGEOandprovidesrapidaccesstosatellitedatatoaidcivilprotectionagenciesandhumanitarianorganisationsrespondingtonaturalandhuman-induceddisasters.
WorkingcloselywiththelatterCharter,theCopernicusEmergencyManagementServicehasalsoplayedanimportantrole,especiallywithitscomponentsofrapidriskandrecoverymappingandearlywarningsystemsforfloodsandforestfires,inprovidingtimelyandrelevantinformationindisastermanagementcontextsfromriskreductionandpreparednesstoresponseandrecovery.
AnotherkeyassetforGEOistheUnitedNationsPlatformforSpace-basedInformationforDisasterManagementandEmergencyResponse(UN-SPIDER)67oftheUnitedNationsOfficeforOuterSpaceAffairs(UNOOSA)whichensuressince2006aglobalcoordinationofspace-basedinformationforemergencyresponseanddisasterriskreduction.
Inthefuture,amoreoperationalandexpandedGEOSS(includingforinstancemorereal-timedata,in-situdataandsocio-economicdata)couldcontributealotmoretotheglobalcapacitytorespondnaturaldisastersandcrisissituations.
Takingfoodsecurityasanotherfieldofhumanitarianaid,theGEOisinvestigatinghowtocombineoperationalweatherandclimateforecastswithimprovedagriculturalriskassessmentbasedoncropmonitoringThiscouldleadinthefuturetobetterearlywarningsandhelpreducingimpactoffuturefoodcrises.
3.
2.
3CoordinationofEOpublicsectorinitiativesintheEUGEOhasinitiatedacatalyticeffectformoreEOcoordinationofpublicsectorinitiativesinEurope,bothatEuropeanandnationallevels.
AtEuropeanlevel,theGEOHLWGmanagedbytheCommissionandinvolvingallEuropeanGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisationsoverseestheGEOSSimplementationfromaEuropeanperspectiveandhelpsshapingcommonEuropeanviewonGEO.
Atnationallevel,severalEuropeanGEOMembers,suchasGermany,Greece,andSpainhavedevelopedorareintendingsetting-upnationalmanagementstructurestocoordinatetheirGEOcontributions,aswellastheirEOstrategies,investments,activitiesandprogrammes.
ThesearegoodexamplesofearlystructuringeffectsforthecoordinationofEOpublicsectorinitiativesinEurope.
Inaddition,theconsultationssofaremphasizehowusefulandnecessaryitwouldbetostrengthenandmakenationalcoordinationmechanismsmorewidespread,tostrengthentheEuropeancoordinationatthevariouslevelsoftheGEOSSimplementation,andtoreinforcetheroleofthecurrentHLWG.
66CommissionimplementingDecisionof30.
7.
2014adoptingaMultiannualIndicativeProgrammeforthePan-Africanprogrammefortheperiod2014-2017;C(2014)5375final67http://www.
un-spider.
org213.
2.
4GrowthandeconomicreturnfromexploitingtheGEOSSintheEUAstudy68in2012bytheEuropeanAssociationofRemoteSensingCompanieshighlightsthatrestrictionsontheavailabilityofEOdatahavenegativeconsequencesonthedevelopmentofdownstreamservicesandgeneralusertake-up.
Duringthelastfewyears,free,fullandopenaccesstoEOdataisbecomingmoreandmoreacceptedandimplementedasgoodpracticebyEuropeancountriesandorganisations.
Opendatapoliciesareincreasinglyperceivedasdriversforthedevelopmentofnewproductsandadded-valueservices,whichinturndostimulatetheservicesectorandcontributetojobscreation.
TheopendatatrendforEarthobservationwhichisdevelopinginEuropeisbuttressedbythewideropenmovementwhichaffectsPublicSectorInformation(PSI)ingeneral,aswellasopenresearchdataandpublications.
ThismovementisfacilitatedbycontinuouslyevolvingICTtechnologies,theprogressivemoveofpublicagenciestowardstheso-called'InformationAge'andthegrowingrelianceonelectronicmediatostorerecords,dataandinformation.
ItisalsoacceleratedthroughtheprogressiveimplementationinEuropeoftheINSPIREDirective69.
TheeconomicvalueofEarthobservationisnotfirstinthedataitselfbutinwhatisdonewiththedatadownstream.
TheEuropeanbusinesssector(annexeVIII)couldstronglybenefitfromincreasedfullandopendatasharingleadingtolowermarketentrybarriers.
Althoughdifficulttoassessinquantitativeterms,newmarketplacesandopportunitiesfortheEOdownstreamserviceindustrycouldemergeinEurope.
TheincreasingGEOpotentialforbusinessestouseopenandfreedataforaddedvalueservicesiswellrecognisedintheconsultationsconductedbytheCommissionin2013(annexesVIandVII).
TheGEOSSdistinguishesitselffromotherEOportalsbythefactthatitaimstoprovideauniversalentrypointandcomprehensiveaccesstoEOdatawithaprioritygiventoGEOSSdata-COREdatasetsforreuseatminimumcostbyanyusersforanypurpose.
3.
3.
IssuesforconsensusbythewholeGEOcommunityViatheGenevadeclaration,theGEOMembershavedecidedtoretainthecurrentnatureoftheGEOpartnership,thegeneralgovernancestructureandtheresourcingmechanismbasedonvoluntarycontributions.
However,atthesametime,theyhaveaskedfor"exploringmodifications",leavingroomforadaptationinordertobetteraddressthepolitical,institutional,scientificandtechnicalchallengesthatGEOwillbefacinginthecomingyears.
SixnewelementsforthenextGEOdecadehavealreadybeenidentifiedintheVisiondocumentforGEO202570andhavebeenadoptedbytheGEO-Xplenary.
ThesenewelementswillrequireconsensusamongstthewholeGEOcommunityontheirdetailedinterpretationandthewaytheyshouldbereflectedinthenext10-YearImplementationPlan.
Thefollowingsub-sectionsoutlinethesenewelementsandpresentintheformof"relatedquestions"asetofissuesthatarecurrentlybeingdiscussedbytheGEOcommunityandexaminedindetailbytheIPWG(seethereportofJuly2014bytheIPWG71).
Theseissues68"AboutGMESanddata:Geeseandgoldeneggs-AstudyontheeconomicbenefitsofafreeandopendatapolicyforSentinelsatellitedata",FinalReportEuropeanAssociationofRemoteSensingCompanies,Brussels,2012(underanassignmentfromtheEuropeanSpaceAgency).
69OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L108,25.
04.
2007,p.
170GEOPlenaryX,15-16January2014,DocumentMS2:VisionforGEO202571GEOEXCOM31,8-9July2014,Document5:InterimReportoftheImplementationWorkingGroup:Towardsthe10-YearImplementationPlan2016-202522woulddeservefurtherconsiderationbytheEUfortheirpossibleimpactontheGEOasawholeandontheEUinparticular.
3.
3.
1"SustainingtheGEOSSinformationsystemthatprovidesaccesstothedataandproductsoftheGEOMembergovernmentsandParticipatingOrganisations"-Relatedquestion:HowtosustainGEOSSoperation,maintenanceandevolutionTheGEOBoardonInfrastructureImplementationacknowledgesthattheGEOSSCommonInfrastructure,whichfallsunderthedirectresponsibilityofGEO,isstillatanintermediarystageofdevelopment.
Movingfromanad-hoc,mainlyS&T-orientedprototypedGEOSStoawider,operationalandsustainedGEOSSinformationsystemisconsideredessentialbytheGEOPlenary.
TheGEOcapacitytoevolvetheGEOSStowardsapermanentinfrastructurewithlongtermmaintenanceandoperationcommitmentswillbechallengedinthenextdecade,notablyintheperspectiveofattractingmoreusersandengagingtheprivatesector.
Initsreport2014,theIPWGevokesthat,inordertodevelopandoperateamorerobustGCIthatmeetstheusers'expectation,sustainablefundingarrangementswillhavetobefound.
ThiscouldforinstanceallowtostreamlinethecomponentsoftheGCI,makeitmoreuser-friendly,modular,robust,flexibleandmaintainedovertime.
Moreover,thesystemofsystemsapproachretainedfortheGEOSSmakesitstronglydependantonthedistributedcomponentsharvestedbytheGCI.
Therefore,additionalattentionmighthavetobepaidontheoperationalrelationshipswiththemanagersofthosedistributedcomponents.
-Relatedquestion:HowtomaketheGEOSSmoreuser-friendlyTheGEOSShastwogeneralcategoriesofusers:dataprovidersanddatausers.
ThepaceoftheGEOSSdataexpansionanduseisexpectedtogrowasafunctionoftheGEOSSmaturityanduseracceptance.
Therefore,itmightbeessentialpursuingcurrenteffortsorideascirculatingamongsttheGEOcommunitytostreamlineandsimplifyasmuchaspossibletheproceduresfortheregistrationofnewGEOSSdatasets,toadaptinterfacesaccordingtothemainuserprofilestargetedbytheGEOSSandtodevelopfunctionalitiesallowingusers'feedbackonregistrationanddatareuse.
AspointedoutintheinterimreportoftheIPWG,itwouldalsobeimportanttodevelopandimplementGEOSSDataManagementPrinciples,includingondatadocumentationandqualitycontrol,toprovideGEOSSuserswithsufficientinformationtojudgefitnessforuse.
Forinstance,itcouldbeusefulverifyingifaGEOconsensuscouldbereachedonhowfartogowithrespecttoapossibleimplementationofaGEOlabel72ondataqualityorthepromotionofreferencedatasetsofglobalinterest.
Beyondtheissueofdatamanagement,itisalsotheissueofinteroperabilityofmodels,toolsandserviceswhichcouldbecomemoreacuteinthefuture.
TheIPWGrecallsinitsinterimreport2014thatmodellingisanintegralpartofGEOSSandthattheintegrationofobservation-basedmodelswithinGEOSSshouldbeenhancedinordertoserveuserneedsforspatial,temporalandvariablecoverage.
ThiswoulddependonthesetofdatausersthatGEOwillwanttotarget,themainrequirementsbytheseusersandthetypeofGEOSSresources(data,models,tools,applications,services)uponwhichGEOwouldagreetofocusonwhenimplementingtheGEOSSthrough2025.
Todate,manymembersoftheGEOcommunityacknowledgethattheGEOSShasbeendrivenbyadata-providerperspectiveandthatthecurrentGCIismainlyadaptedfor"expert"users.
Notmuchhashappenedyettoserve"non-expert"userssuchasindividualswhomightwishqueryingtheGEOSSmoreoccasionallyforsimplerstraightforwardapplications,forinstanceabouttheirlocallivingenvironment.
Policyusers,whooftendonothavethecapacitytoingestincreasingvolumesofdifferentkindsofdata,wouldrequireadvancedproductsgeneratedbyaddedvalueservices.
Researchersrepresentstillanothercategoryofuserswhoareofteninterestedingettinglargeamountsofrawdataonafrequentbasis.
Thus,requirementsintermsofspatial,72http://www.
geolabel.
info/23temporal,spectralresolutions,thelevelsofdatapre-processinganddeliverytimes,frequenciesofdatarequests,typesofuserinterfaceandsupportservicesmightdiffersignificantly.
Apre-requisiteforrenderingGEOSSmoreuser-friendlywillthusrequiretheestablishmentof,asrepeatedbytheIPWG,amoreconciseandclearerunderstandingofthetargetedGEOSSusers.
3.
3.
2"FosteringglobalinitiativesthataddressidentifiedgapsinEarthobservationinformationincluding,whereappropriate,facilitatingthedevelopmentofpartnershipstoidentifyrelevantstakeholders(end-users),aswellasdevelopmentofassociatedservicesandarrangingfortheirsubsequentuptakebyrelevantentities"-Relatedquestion:HowtoenableamorewidespreaduptakeanduseoftheGEOSSTheimportanceofstrengtheningoftheuserdimensionacrossallGEOsocietalchallengeshasbeenunderlinedinthelatestGEOassessmentreport73aswellasintheCommissionconsultationsreferencedinannexesVIandVII.
HowtheGEOshouldbroadentheglobalinitiativesapproachconductedsofarbyGEOinordertobettermeetthedemandfromusersisasubjectforfurtherinvestigationalsoreportedbytheIPWG.
TheGEOinternationalinitiativeshavemaximumfewyearsofgestation.
Sustainingthemandtheservicestheystartproviding,aswellasstrengtheningtheassociatedcommunitiesofpracticeoverthelongterm,areissuesthatarelikelytobecomemorepressingastheseinitiativesmatureovertime.
DevelopingnewstrategicworkingpartnershipswhenGEOreachesouttootherorganisationsisanotherareabeingconsideredbytheGEOcommunityforpossibleinvestigation.
TheaimwouldbetobettercontributetothegoalsofthoseorganisationsthroughdevelopingabettermatchbetweenuserdemandandGEOSSsupply.
-Relatedquestion:Howtobetter'brand'theGEOaddedvalueontheinternationalsceneThetopicofsharingandmanaginggeospatialenvironmentaldataviadigitalinfrastructuresisgettingmoreattentionontheinternationalscene.
AsunderlinedintheGEOassessmentreport,thereisaneedfortheGEOSStokeeppacewithafast-movingdigitallandscapeandthegrowingnumberofdatainfrastructureinitiatives.
TheGEOwouldprobablygaintobetterpositionitselfandshowcaseitsspecificaddedvalueinanincreasinglycomplexgloballandscapeofnewenvironmentale-infrastructureinitiatives(suchastheFutureEarth74,Earthcube75,theSharedEnvironmentalInformationSystem-SEIS76,theGlobalFrameworkforClimateServices-GFCS77,ortheUNinitiativeonGlobalGeospatialInformationManagement-UNGGIM78,justtomentionafew).
3.
3.
3"MobilisingappropriateresourcesforEOcapacitybuildingwithaspecificemphasisondevelopingcountries"-Relatedquestion:HowshallGEOstrengthenengagementwithdevelopingcountriesandfosterregionalcooperationTheneedforEarthobservationsmightsignificantlydifferfromonepartoftheworldtoanother,includingthosebycitizensindevelopingordevelopednations.
Theneedtostrengthenengagementwithdevelopingcountries,aswellasfosterregionalcooperationisclearlymentionedintheGenevaDeclaration79.
FollowingtheexampleoftheAfriGEOSS73GEOEXCOM31,8-9July2014,Document11:Targetandtaskassessment74http://www.
icsu.
org/future-earth/75http://www.
earthcube.
org/76http://ec.
europa.
eu/environment/archives/seis/index.
htm77http://www.
gfcs-climate.
org/78http://ggim.
un.
org/79http://www.
earthobservations.
org/documents/ministerial/geneva/MS6_The_Geneva_Declaration.
pdf24initiative,GEOcouldconsiderestablishingnewregionalinitiativesandpartnershipstoacceleratecapacitybuildingandGEOSSpenetrationatregionaltolocalscales.
SuchanapproachcouldhaveimplicationsforallcaucusesandtriggerpossiblemodificationsofgovernanceasenvisagedintheVisiondocumentforGEO2025.
Someequilibriumwouldhavetobefoundbetweenglobalandregional,centralisedanddecentralisedapproachessoastoallowformulti-scaleGEOSSpenetrationwhileavoidingbreak-out.
ThelatestassessmentofGEOprogress80reportsthatengagementofdevelopingcountriesremainsachallenge.
Inthecasethatpartnershipswouldbeestablishedwithagroupofdevelopingcountries,additionalcareshouldbetakenoftheirrealinvolvementandsteering,aswellastocollaboratewiththerelevantdevelopmentprogramsexistinginthedifferentcaucus.
3.
3.
4"AllowingforthepossibilityofmodificationstoGEO'scurrentSocietalBenefitAreastructure,exploringlinkagestosustainabledevelopmentthemes"-Relatedquestion:WhatrevisedconceptforfutureGEOsocietalchallengesandwhatimplicationsonfutureGEOstrategictargetsSeveralchallengesarenotspecificallycoveredbythecurrentnineGEOSocietalchallenges.
Forinstance,themanagementofgeo-resourcesisnotincluded.
However,themajorcontributionthatmineralsandmetalsmaketotheworldeconomyandmodernsocietiesiswellrecognised,aswellastheneedtoaddresstheenvironmentalandsocialimpactsofminingactivities.
Thiswasnotablypointedoutintheoutcomedocument'Thefuturewewant'oftheUnitedNationsRio+20conferenceonSustainableDevelopment81.
Takinggeo-resourcesasanexample,GEOcouldreconsiderthescopeofitssocietalchallengesandrelatedstrategictargetsforthenextdecade.
TheVisiondocumentforGEO2025andmorerecentlytheinterimreportbytheIPWGrecommendthat:"GEOshouldseektobecomethepointofreferenceforEarthobservationsandinformationintheareaoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)"andthat"GEOshouldalignitsagendawiththatoftheSDGs".
3.
3.
5"Makingarenewedeffort,wherepossible,tocollaboratewiththeprivatesectorwhileremaininganintergovernmentalpartnership"ThereisconsensusamongsttheGEOmembersthatGEOshouldremaindrivenbyapartnershipofgovernments.
ThiswashighlightedintheVisiondocumentforGEO2025andconfirmedintheCommissionconsultationoftheHLWG(annexeVII).
Thepublic-goodnatureofEarthobservationanditscontributiontolong-termpublicpolicy-makinglargelyexplainthisrequirementtomaintainpubliccontroloftheGEOandtheGEOSS.
Atthesametime,theessentialroleoftheprivatesectorincontributingtotheinnovationcycle,incubatingnewEO-derivedservicesandconnectingtotheendusersisfullyrecognisedbytheGEOcommunity.
IntheGenevadeclaration,theGEOMinistersresolved"tobroadenandstrengthenengagementwithnon-governmentalorganisations,non-profitorganisations(…),foundations,andtheprivatesector".
-Relatedquestions:WhatbusinesscasescouldbedevelopedtoattracttheprivatesectorWhatfunctionscouldindustrycarryoutwhensupportingand/orbenefitingfromGEOSSShouldthedoorbeopenedtoprivateinvestmentinGEO-GEOSSIstherearolefortheprivatesectorintheGEOgovernanceNewmodelscouldbedevelopedtobettermatchpublic-andprivate-sectorinterestsinthemediumtolongterms,whilealsopreservingtransparency,fairnessandequalaccesstoGEOSSforcompaniesofallcountries.
ThiscouldbedoneconsideringtheevolvingnatureofaprivatesectorwhichisnotmonolithicandtakingstockofpossibleGEOvaluesforthe80GEOPlenaryX,15-16January2014,Document7:AssessmentofProgress–TargetandTask81http://www.
un.
org/en/sustainablefuture/25privatesector:fromdevelopingnewmarketsegmentstounderstandingglobalrequirements,triggeringnewbusinessmodelsorprovidinganewplatformformarketingandadvertising.
Inthiscontext,GEOmightgiveanewpushtoitsintentionofdevelopingageneralframeworkforprivatesectorengagement.
TheVisiondocumentforGEO2025brieflymentionsmodelssuchaspublic-privateforaandotherplatformsfordialogue.
NewaspectsoftheGEOmodeoffunctioningmighthavetobeconsidered,especiallyifGEOwoulddecidetoinvitetheprivatesectortocontributetowardsthecostsofupgradingtheGCItobetterservetheprivatesector'sneeds.
AsreportedbytheIPWG,thisisoneofthenewperspectivescurrentlydiscussedamongsttheGEOcommunity.
-Relatedquestions:HowfarshallGEOSSexpandaccessibilitybeyondEOdataWhataboutgivingaccesstoprocessingtoolsforbigdata,interfacesforcomputingonthecloud,Earthsystemmodels,newdatastreamssuchascrowdsourcingdataHowshallGEOsucceedinimprovingaccesstoanduseofcultural,socialandeconomicdataCurrently,theGEOSSinfrastructureprovidesaccesstomillionsofdata,files,imagesandcataloguesinvariousforms.
TherangeofresourcesmadeavailabletousersviatheGEOSScouldwellexpandtotakeintoaccountofnewmonitoringtrendssuchascrowdsourcing,unmannedairborneobservingplatforms,sensorweb,datamadeavailablethroughsocialnetworksorthosebigdatathataresolargeandcomplexthattheycannotbeprocessedanymoreusingon-handdatabasemanagementtoolsortraditionaldataprocessingapplications.
AccordingtotheVisiondocumentforGEO2025,facilitatingaccesstobigdatashouldbeamongstthestrategicobjectivesoftheGEOSSthrough2025.
Invariousworkshops,expertsoftheGEOInfrastructureImplementationBoardhavesuggestedthattheGEOcoulddecidetotakemoreadvantageoftheInternetofThings,toshareservicesandtoolsforinformationprocessingsuchaswebmappingandvisualisationtools,webmodelling,highcomputationtechnologiesorgridcomputing.
Thiscouldpossiblyleadtoamorehybridapproachwherenotonlydataarebroughttotheusersbutalsowhereusersarebroughttothedata.
GEOmightalsowishtoclarifytheextenttowhichthefutureGEOSSwouldshareprocesseddatasets,derivedanalyticalproductsandmoresophisticatedinformationproducts.
InthecontextofthefutureexpansionoftheGEOSSoffer,theCommissionconsultationsinannexesVIandVIIhavepointedouttheimportanceofseizingfutureopportunitiesfortheprivatesectorwhileatthesametimeensuringagloballevelplayingfield.
3.
3.
6"DevelopingaspecificandstrengthenedframeworkormechanismforsteadyresourcecommitmentstoGEOSS,frombothpublicandnon-publicsources,whilerelyingontheprincipleofvoluntarycontributions"-Relatedquestion:Howtobalance/increaseexpectationsandcommitmentsWhatrevisedresourcingmechanismsforGEOExpectationsforGEOthrough2025shouldideallybecommensuratewiththescaleofcommitmentsbytheGEOMembers.
Largeexpectationswouldrequirelargecommitments;lowercommitmentsmighterodethelevelofambition.
TheIPWGunambiguouslyreflectsthegeneralopinionintheGEOcommunitythat"GEOneedsmoreresourcesandstrongercommitments"andthat"thereisdysfunctionalmanagementat[GEO]tasklevel,withalackofresourcespermeatingeveryaspectofimplementation".
However,itremainstobedefinedwhattheintendedframeworkforsustainedresourcecommitments,asresolvedbytheMinistersduringtheGEOSummitinGeneva,couldconsistofandifthismechanismwillbesufficientlyattractiveconsideringthemaintainedvoluntaryapproachoftheGEO.
Asreferredtoinsection2.
5,thisvoluntaryapproachbringsalotofflexibility,agility,inclusivenessandreactivitypotentialintheGEOprocess.
ItalsosometimeslessensthelevelofcommitmentbysomeGEOMembersorParticipatingOrganisationswhichinturnsometimesmightjeopardisetheabilityoftheGEOWorkPlantoreachtheintendedstrategictargetscompletelyandontime.
Whilstthereisawidespreadconsensusontheneedformore26resourcesfortheGEOSSimplementation,theGEOMemberswillhavetofindacommonpositiononhowthiscanbeachievedconsideringbothpublicandnon-publicsources,bothin-kindandincash.
3.
4.
EU-specificissuesforpossibleconsiderationLessonslearntfromnineyearsofEuropeaninvolvementinimplementingtheGEOSS,showthatEuropewouldgainfromaddressingthefollowingadditionalEU-specificissuesifitwishestoreinforcethecontributionfromandbenefittotheEUintherenewedGEO.
Theseissuesforpossibleconsiderationhavebeencompiledfromtheresultsoftheconsultationsmadein2013ofthemembersoftheHLWGandadditionalexternalEuropeanexperts(annexesVIandVII).
Theyareoutlinedasabasisforpossibledeeperanalysesthatcouldhelpidentifyingoptionalactionsandalternativesandassessingtheirrespectiveimpacts.
3.
4.
1GEO-relatedcoordinationmechanismsinEurope-EUdimensionandlong-termstrategyoftheGEOEuropeanregionalnodeInthelastGEOSummitinGeneva,theMinistersandotherheadsofdelegationshaveresolvedtoreinforcetheregionalcomponentoftheGEOSS.
ThereisageneralagreementthatestablishingstrongerregionalnodesoftheGEOSScanbeaneffectivemeanstocoordinateandcatalyseGEOSSactivities.
ThecoordinationoftheEuropeanCaucusisbasedontheHLWGwhichinvolvesexpertsnominatedbytheMemberStatesandwhosemeetingsremaindrivenbyPlenaryandEXCOMagendas.
Thecoordinationisessentiallyadhocandinformal.
EachEuropeanGEOMembercountryandtheCommissionparticipateintheirownright.
InGEOPlenarymeetings,theEuropeanCaucusspeakswith33voices(32nationalgovernmentslocatedinEurope-including26EUMemberStates-plustheCommission).
TheMemberStatesdelegatesgenerallyacknowledgedthefundamentalsuccessoftheGEOHLWGindevelopingcommonEuropeanpositionswithrespecttoGEO.
However,somedelegateshaverecommendedthatthisgroupcouldbestrengthenedandformalisedwithaviewtogettingstrongerengagementnotonlybyfewbutbyallitsmembers.
Furthermore,theyhavealsounderlinedthat,whiletheEUsupportviaFP7hasbeenessentialtohelptheGEOSSimplementationsince2007,thishasnotleadtoaproportionallevelofEUinfluenceonthemanagementandexecutionoftheGEO.
Furthermore,thepanelofexpertsconsultedin2013(annexeVI)advisedtheCommissiontoexplorewaysandmeanswiththeEuropeanGEOMemberstoevolvetheorganisationoftheEuropeanGEOCaucussothatthecurrentEuropeanparticipationinGEObecomesamoreformalEUparticipation.
Thepanelofexpertsnotedthat"effectiveintra-Europeancoordinationatanimplementationlevelisnotyetsufficientlyinplace.
ToalloweffectiveandcoordinatedparticipationofaEuropeannetworkofrepresentativesinallareasofGEOSSimplementation,managementandcoordination,considerationshouldbegiventodesignatingEuropeancoordinatorsforeachoftheGEOstrategictargets,andlinkingthemwiththeGEOHLWG.
ThesecoordinatorswouldalsoactaspointsofcontactbothwithinEuropeandtowardsGEO"82.
ToprovideamorecoherentandsustainedEUleadershipthroughouttheGEOinitiativeduringtheperiod2016-2025,theremightbeaneedtoexploreanddetailwiththeMemberStatesthebestmechanismstowardsarenewedcoordinationframeworkwithapossible82Groupofexperts'Report"AssessmentoftheAchievementsoftheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO):AEuropeanUnionPerspective",commissionedbytheEuropeanCommission,May201427widenedstrategiccharacterfortheEuropeanGEOCaucus.
Atthesametime,suchaframeworkcouldforeseethemostadaptedinterfaceswiththeEuropeandownstreamindustryatlarge,withnationalEOmanagementstructuresandothersub-nationalinitiativesinEuropetofacilitateGEO-inspiredinnovation.
ExperiencecouldbegainedfromotherCommissionExpertGroupssuchassteeringboardsofexistingEuropeanInnovationPartnerships.
SynergiescouldalsobesoughtwithgroupsofexpertsandcommitteesinvolvingMemberStatesrepresentativessuchastheINSPIRECommittee,theCopernicusCommitteeortheEuropeRegionalCommitteeoftheUnitedNationsCommitteeofExpertsonGlobalGeospatialInformationManagement(UN-GGIM:Europe).
TheEuropeancaucusmightinvestigatefurtherhowtoreinforceitsdirectlinkstothevariousboards,groupsandcommitteesinvolvedinthegovernanceoftheGEO.
-NationalGEOmanagementstructuresDuringtheGEOSummitinGeneva,severalGEOdelegationshavepointedoutthateffortsshouldbecontinuedtodeveloporconsolidatenational-levelmanagementstructuresfortheGEOandtheGEOSS.
ThiswasfurtheremphasisedbyseveralmembersoftheGEOHLWGduringtheconsultationconductedin2013(annexeVII).
InEurope,severalEuropeanMemberStates,suchasGermany,Greece,AustriaandSpain,havedevelopedtovariousextentssuchnationalstructuresalsocalled'nationalGEOOfficesofGEOSecretariats'.
Ingeneral,theprimeaimsofsuchstructuresaretoinformandcoordinateEOplayersinthosecountriesandtorepresenttheminmeetingsoftheGEOHLWGandotherGEOevents.
SomeMemberStateshavealreadyexpressedthewishthatexperiencesonexistingnationalGEOmanagementstructuresshallbeexchangedintheframeoftheGEOHLWG.
SynergiescouldbeexploredwiththenationalcoordinatingstructuresthatareforeseeninthelegalprovisionsoftheINSPIREDirective.
-CollaborationwithESAandothermajorEOpublicorganisationsinEuropeTherecouldbeahighleveragepotentialtobegainedfromevengreatersynergieswithmajorEuropeanorganisationsofrelevancetotheGEOSS,inparticularwithESAtakingintoaccountoftheforthcomingevolutionofEU-ESAfunctioningrelationship.
TheCouncilinitsconclusionsof18February201383recognisedthattheremaybeaneedto"reviewandenhancethefunctioningoftherelationshipbetweentheEUandESAinviewofthechangedpoliticalcontext,theincreasingroleoftheEUinthespacedomain,competitivenesschallengesfacedbythespacesectorandthegrowingimportanceofspaceactivitiesforsociety".
TheCommissionhasoutlinedvariousoptionsinitsprogressreportonestablishingappropriaterelationsbetweentheEuropeanUnionandtheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA)84.
ESAiscurrentlydiscussingtheseoptionsinviewofadecisionexpectedbytheendofthisyear.
Whatevertheselectedoptioncouldbe,thereisacleartrendtowardsgreateroperationalefficiency,politicalcoordinationandaccountability.
ESAhasaleadingroleinthespacecomponentoftheEUCopernicusprogrammeandintheGEOSSimplementation.
ThisroleincludesdeliveringandmanagingtheGEOSSportal,providingsatellite-basedEOassetsforvariousGEOsocietalchallenges(suchasdisasterandclimate)andGEOinitiatives(suchasAfriGEOSSandGFOI).
Furthermore,asrecognisedintheexpertsreportinannexeVII,ESAisconductingresearchandinnovationprogrammesinthefieldofEarthobservationtosupportEuropeanandCanadiangeo-spatialinformationindustry,developandgrowtheprospectsofEOservicesbeingusedinbusinessand83ST6571/1384COM(2014)56final28organisationsfortheiroperations(e.
g.
theESAValueAddingElement85,aprogrammecomponentoftheESALivingPlanetProgramme86).
ExistingcollaborationwithotherEuropeanorganisationswhichalreadyparticipateintheGEOcouldalsobereinforcedsuchaswithEUMETSAT,ECMWF,theEEA,theEUSatelliteCentreandEuroGeoSurveys.
AdvantagecouldbetakenfromthefactthatmostoftheseorganisationsarealsostronglyinvolvedintheEUCopernicusprogramme(annexeIV).
-EUconsensusbuildingonthenext10-yearImplementationPlanMinistersandotherheadsofdelegationsrepresentingvariousEUMemberStatesorotherEuropeancountriesduringtheGEOSummitinGenevahaveexpressedtheiropinionsandperspectivesontherenewedGEOfortheperiod2016-2025.
TheCommission,asGEOco-chair,calledonthatoccasionforanacceleratedandmorerobustevolutionoftheGEOSSandinvitedformorecommitmentbytheGEOMembers.
TheCommissionhasalsounderlinedthepotentialbenefitsthattheGEOSScouldbringtotheglobaleconomyanditspossibleroletohelpachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.
TheCommissionandtheothermemberstheHLWGarealreadysupportingtheworkoftheIPWGforthedraftingofthenext10-YearImplementationPlan.
However,trueconsensuswithintheGEOEuropeancaucushasnotyetbeenreachedonfuturemodificationsthatcouldbeintroducedtotheGEOfunctioning(newelementsdetailedinsection3.
3).
Theexperts'report(annexeVI)suggeststhattheHLWGshouldprovideitsowninputtotheIPWGtoprovideEuropeanviewsontheGEOgovernancefortheperiod2016-2025.
3.
4.
2CoordinationofEuropeanresearchandinnovationinthefieldofEarthobservationWhenconceptualisedin2003,theGEOSSwasfirstintroducedasacomprehensivesystemofsystemstotakethepulseofthePlanetandasameansofbuildingthenextlevelofEarthobservationtoallowan'EarthScienceRenaissance':atruerevolutioninourunderstandingoftheEarthasacomplexandinterconnectedsystem87.
AGEOreport88preparedin2008bytheGEOScienceandTechnologyCommitteehasemphasisedthehighdependencyoftheGEOSSimplementationonadvancesinscience,technology,andresearch,andhowGEOSSitselfcouldbeadriverforsuchadvances.
ThemainrelationshipsbetweenscienceandGEOSSdoarticulatealongthefollowingfivemainfunctions:LinkingobservationsacrossSocietalBenefitAreasIdentifyinggapsinobservations,researchanddevelopmentProvisionoflongtimeseriesofobservationsImproveaccessandharmonizationofin-situdataBridgingthegapbetweenscienceandapplication-EarthobservationfocusacrosstheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeTheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeisoverwhelminglyrecognisedbytheMemberStatesdelegatesoftheHLWGandbythegroupofexpertsconvenedbytheCommissionasessentialforprogressingontheGEOSSimplementationandprovidingaddedvaluetonationalcontributions(annexesVIandVII).
TheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeoffersagreatpotentialtoachieveresearchandinnovationbreakthroughsinthefieldofEarthobservationthrough2025.
Thispotentialrelies85http://www.
eomd.
esa.
int/86http://www.
esa.
int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/The_Living_Planet_Programme87InterventionofVice-AdmiralConradC.
Lautenbacher,Jr.
atthe14thWMOCongress(May2003)88GEOreport'TheroleofscienceandtechnologyinGEOSS'EuropeanCommunities,200829partlyonthenewinstrumentsoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammemadeavailabletoaddressthefullinnovationchainandthegeneralobjectivetoencourageandfacilitatethetransitionfromresearchtooperationsinpartnershipwithoperationalactorsfromthepublicandprivatesectors.
ItalsoreliesonthefocusgiventoEarthobservationineachofthethreemainPartsoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme.
PartIon'ExcellentScience'oftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeaimstoensurethatEuropehasworld-classresearchinfrastructuresaccessibletoallEuropeanresearchersandbeyond.
Thisincludessupportofessentialmonitoringinfrastructuresinvariousscientificdomainsincludingenvironment(annexeV).
Dependingontheirscopeandmaturity,someofthemcouldrepresentinterestingEOcapabilitieswithopendatamanagementstrategiesthatcouldbebroughtbyGEOtotheglobalstage.
Researchinfrastructuresunder'Excellentscience'alsoincludee-infrastructuresactivitiesandthecontinuedsupporttotransversal,crosscuttinginteroperablesolutions,forallresearchdomains(includinggeo-sciences).
Typicale-InfrastructureareasofresearchandinnovationofhighrelevancetoGEOSSinclude:infrastructureforopenaccess,longtermpreservation,managementofextremelylargeresearchdatasets,persistenceandtrust,aswellascommunity-drivendatainfrastructures,computationalinfrastructuresuchasHighProcessingComputing(HPC)servicesorcloudcomputing,GANT,virtualResearchCommunities,andvirtualresearchenvironmentsandvirtuallabs.
PartIIon'IndustrialLeadership'oftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeaimsatstrengtheningindustrialleadershipandcompetitiveness.
AprimeareaofinterestunderPartIIrelatestosatellite-basedEarthobservationincludingtheirvalidation,processing,andexploitationtodevelopnewinformationproductsandservices.
ThiswouldcontributetomakeCopernicusthemainEuropeancontributiontotheGEOSS.
AnotherinterestingareawithrelevancetoGEOrelatestoInformationandCommunicationTechnologies(ICT)activitiesfor'digitalcontentandcreativity'.
Thisarealooksatnewtoolstocreate,exploitandpreserveallformofdigitalcontentinanylanguageandtomodel,analyse,andvisualisevastamountsofdata.
ICTfocussingon'bigdata'processingisalsoasubjectbeingtreatedunderPartIIwhichisgettingincreasinginterestbytheGEOcommunity.
UnderPartIIIoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme,theSocietalChallengeonClimateaction,Environment,ResourceEfficiencyandRawmaterialsforeseesresearchandinnovationactivitiestosupportrelevantinternationaleffortsandinitiatives,throughthedevelopmentofcomprehensiveandsustainedglobalenvironmentalobservationandinformationsystems,includinginthecontextofGEO.
AspartoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme,theCommission'sJointResearchCentre(JRC)isexpectedtocontinueprovidingindependentcustomer-drivenscientificandtechnicalsupportfortheformulation,development,implementationandmonitoringofEUpolicies.
TypicalJRCdomainsofcontributionincludeEOdataavailability,modellingandadvancedprocessingcapabilitiestotransformdataintoinformation,aswellasinteroperabilitybetweeninformationsystems.
Intheirassessmentreport(annexeVI),thegroupofexpertsrecommendsanincreasedcoordinationtostreamlineEOactivitieswithinthevariousservicesoftheCommission.
Inthefieldofresearchandinnovation,astrongleverageeffectcouldpossiblybeachievedfromanincreasedcoordinationacrossHorizon2020prioritiesofEOrelevance.
-ERAcoordinationinthefieldofEarthobservationManyEuropeancountriesandpan-EuropeanorganisationsareconductingEOresearchandinnovationprogrammesbutmanyoftheseactivitiesremaintoofragmented.
TheycouldbemorecoordinatedtoreachthecriticalmassthatwouldenabletheEUtobebetterpositionedwithregardtoitsmaincompetitors.
30AsidentifiedintheCommissionconsultations(annexesVIandVII),astrengthenedEuropeanResearchArea(ERA)inthedomainofEarthobservationwouldreducefragmentation,alignagendas,poolresourcestowardsmoretransnationalactivities,andleverageimpactofpublicfundedresearchandinnovationconductedby(inter)nationalandregionalprogrammesinEurope.
SuchcoordinationwouldnotonlybringimprovedcoherenceoftheoverallEUcontributiontotheGEO,butalsoconsolidatetheresearchandinnovationcomponenttotheEUCopernicusprogramme.
TheERA-NETCofundinstrumentproposedintheWorkProgramme2014-2015underSocietalChallengeonClimateAction,Environment,ResourceEfficiencyandRawmaterialscouldbeconsideredasamilestoneforsuchcoordination.
ThisERA-NET,ifimplemented,foreseesajointcallforproposalswithEUco-fundingonobservingandmonitoringchangesaffectingtheEarth'satmosphere,oceans,cryosphereandlandscapes.
-DatarelationshipbetweentheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeandtheGEOSSTodate,thenumberofEOresources(data,information,images,services,standardsandbestpractices)thatcanbesearched,discoveredandaccessedviatheGEOSSWebPortaliscloseto70million.
Oftheseresources,about51millioncanbeaccessedforreusewithoutrestrictioneitherfree-of-chargeoratthecostofreproduction.
TherewouldbebenefitforbeneficiariesoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammetoexploitfortheirresearchandinnovationactivitiesthedatamadeaccessibleopenlyviatheGEOSS,andalsotoregisterinGEOSSthegeospatialdatathattheyhaveproducedasforegroundoftheirproject.
ThelattercouldbedoneasacontributiontotheOpenResearchDataPilotcurrentlyexperimentedwithvariouspartsoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme.
3.
4.
3SynergiesbetweentheGEOSSandCopernicus-GEOSSdiscoveryandaccesstoCopernicusdataandservicesCopernicus,theEUflagshipprogrammeforEarthobservation,isgraduallybecomingoperational,component-by-componentandservice-by-service(annexeIV).
InviewofthedisseminationofthewealthofCopernicusdataandservices,thevariouspartnersinvolvedintheCopernicusprogrammearenowconsideringhowtoupgradeandup-scalethecurrentdistributedinfrastructuresharedbetweenthevariousCopernicusstakeholdersincludingtheCommission,EEA,ESA,EUMETSAT,othernationalspaceagenciesandtheMemberStates.
ThisisamajorissueinordertomeetthedemandwhileaccommodatingtheexpectedlargevolumeofCopernicusdataandproducts.
PreviousconsultationsindicatethatGEOhelpsreachingoutbeyondtheEUthroughbringinganinternationalcontexttotheCopernicusdataandproducts(e.
g.
fromtheEmergencyManagementandtheLandMonitoringServices).
CopernicusisexpectedtoprovideoperationalGEOservicesthatwillrepresentasignificantEuropeancontributiontotheGEOSS.
However,aclearrecommendationresultingfromtheseconsultationsistheneedto"enhancelinksandcollaborationbetweenCopernicusandGEO".
Forinstance,untilrecently,accessfromtheGEOSSWebPortaltoexistingCopernicusserviceswaslimitedandsub-optimal.
IncreasedattentionisnowbeinggiventomakenewCopernicusdataandservicesmoreeasilyaccessiblethroughtheGEOSS,andregistered,asfaraspossible,asGEOSSData-COREresources.
ItmightbeusefultofurtherexplorehowtowidenandsystematisetheseeffortsiftheEUwantstoeffectivelyallowtheGEOcommunityofuseandfeedbackonCopernicusdataandproducts.
31-InterconnectionbetweenCopernicusservices,GEOinternationalinitiativesandcommunitiesofpracticeAstheindividualCopernicusservicesfitgenerallyverywellwiththescopeofoneormoreoftheGEOsocietalchallenges,itcouldbebeneficialtoreflectonhowtobetterinterconnecttheseserviceswiththerelevantGEOinternationalinitiativesandcommunitiesofpracticethatareaddressingthem.
Forinstance,theGEObeingaglobalandmulti-disciplinarypartnership,itcouldverywellenrichCopernicuswithawideinternationalfeedbackonthedefinitionandvalidationoftheCopernicusservicerequirements.
-InsitudatafortheGEOSSandCopernicusLong-termandcontinuousprovisionofairborne,seaborneandground-basedin-situdataplayacrucialroleinboththeGEOSSandtheCopernicusprogramme.
In-situdataarenotonlyrequiredforcalibrationandvalidationpurposesofsatelliteproducts,butalsoasaparalleldatastreamtoderiveproductsofhighervaluetotheuser.
However,in-situdataarerepeatedlyreportedamongsttheGEOcommunityasunderplayedintheGEOSS.
AsreportedinthelatestGEOassessmentreport,severalvaluable,highqualitysourcesofin-situdatahavenotyetbeenproperlyintegratedwithintheGEOSS.
Thisparticularlyconcerns:Environmentalresearchinfrastructures(seeannexeV),includingthoselistedintheroadmapoftheEuropeanStrategyForumonResearchInfrastructures(ESFRI)89.
TheyrepresentastrategicsourceofinsitudatatomonitoressentialvariablesoftheEarthsystem;Citizenscience,crowdsourcing,socialnetworks,sensorweb,unmannedairbornevehiclesandgeoreferencedbigdata.
Thesedevelopmentsrepresentpromisinginsitumonitoringopportunitiesthatcouldcomplement,tosomeextent,themoreclassicalandinstitutionalenvironmentalobservationnetworks;Officialstatisticalinformationonsocio-economicandenvironmentalphenomena.
TheremightbeanopportunityinthefuturetostrengthenaGEOpartnershipwithUN-GGIMandstatisticalinstitutesingeneral.
TheEuropeanStatisticalSystem,forinstance,hasrecentlyreaffirmeditscommitmenttoengageintheintegrationofgeospatialinformationwithstatisticalinformationwiththeaimofsupportingsustainabledevelopment.
Statisticalofficesarealsoincreasinglyinvestingintoresearchongeo-referencedbigdata.
Awideexperienceregardingin-situdatacoordinationhasbeenaccumulatedinEurope,particularlybytheEEAinthecontextsofCopernicus,theFP7projectonGMESIn-SituCoordination(GISC90),theGEOTaskto"develop,maintainandcoordinateinsituandairborneobservingnetworks",andEionet91,theEuropeanenvironmentinformationandobservationnetwork.
TheEUcouldpossiblygainfrombetterconnectingitsmultipleeffortsrelatedtotheharmonisation,provisionandsharingofin-situdata,forexamplethroughtheimplementationoftheINSPIREDirective,exploitingfurtherthisexperienceandusingGEOmoreintensivelytobringitatglobalscaletoconsolidatethein-situcomponentofbothCopernicusandtheGEOSS.
89http://ec.
europa.
eu/research/infrastructures/index_en.
cfmpg=esfri90http://gisc.
ew.
eea.
europa.
eu/91http://www.
eea.
europa.
eu/about-us/countries-and-eionet323.
4.
4AvenuesforengagingtheEuropeanprivatesectorinGEOforpossibleconsideration-MobilizationoftheEuropeanbusinesssectortobenefitfromtheGEOSSTheglobaltrendtowardsmorefullandopenEOdatasharingtowhichGEOiscontributingactivelylaysdownthefoundationsforamorecompetitiveandinnovativeEO-relatedglobalmarketplacethatdownstreamindustriesfromanyregionoftheworldmightwishtoexploit.
Whileitwasprematurein2005toopenadiscussionwiththeEuropeanprivatesectoronhowtobenefitfromGEOSSopportunities,theprogressiveimplementationoftheGEOSS,theachievementsintermsofdiscoveryandaccesstoEOdatasets,andtheexpansionoftheGEOSSData-COREbringintolightthegrowingissueoftheoptimaltake-upoftheGEOSSdataopportunitiesbytheEuropeanprivatesector.
Moregenerally,thisissuecouldalsobelinkedtothedegreeofpreparednessofthewholeEuropeanprivatesectortoembracetheongoingdigitaldatarevolutionandtoparticipateintheglobaldigitaleconomy.
IncreasingawarenessaboutGEOSS-relatedmarketopportunitiesanddialoguingwiththebusinesssectorinEuropearepre-requisitesinordertoraiseinterest,collectviews,andultimatelytransformtheGEOSSintoalevertosupporttheEUindustry.
AdetaileddescriptionofthisEOindustryinEuropeandrelatedmarketsisgiveninannexeVIII.
ThisdescriptionprovidesageneralcategorizationoftheEarthobservationprivatesector,figuresandtrendsconcerningtheEuropeanEOserviceindustryovertheperiod2006-2012andconsiderationsaboutglobalmarketsforremotesensingandgeo-services.
-ConsolidationoftheEO-basedservicesectorinEuropeAbetterpositioningoftheEUserviceindustryontheglobalstage,includingonmarketsoutsideEurope,impliesacceleratingtheemergenceoftheservicesectorinEurope,givingaspecialattentiontonewinnovativeSMEs.
BuildingupontheCommunicationfromtheCommissionof28February2013onthe"EUspaceindustrialpolicy:releasingthepotentialforeconomicgrowthinthespacesector"92,itmightbeusefultoexaminewhethercomplementaryactionswouldreinforcetheemergenceofaEuropeanservicesector.
Forinstance,thecaseofbusinessesessentiallybasedonin-situEarthobservationdatacouldbefurtherexplored.
ProspectsfornewinnovativeproductsandapplicationsusingEOdataasoneamongstseveralothersourcesofinformationmightleadtonewprofilesofprivateprovidersandnewmarketnichestobeexplored.
-StimulatinginnovativeservicesfornonexpertusersSeveralmarketindicatorspointtowardsthestrategicroleoflocalmarketsfortheserviceindustry.
Recentstudies93confirmtheimportanceofmicro-enterprisesindevelopingproductsoptimisedforlocalneeds,aswellasthetrendtowardstheveryhighresolutionformanycommercialapplicationsandtheimportanceoflandapplicationsforlocalplanners.
AspecialEurobarometerconductedinMay-June2013onEuropeans'attitudestospaceactivities94revealedthatmorethanhalfofEuropeanswouldbeinterestedinusinginformationderivedfromspace-borneobservationstohelpplantheirtravelandoutdooractivities.
ThissurveyshowsalsoagrowingtrendtowardssomedemocratisationoftheuseofEOdata,beyondthemoreclassicalinstitutionaluseofEarthobservationstoinformpolicies.
Therefore,moredemonstrationofsimpleGEO-basedapplicationsforlocalneedsbynon-expertuserscouldraiseawarenessontheGEOSSpotentialtostimulatesuchakindofmarketinEurope.
92COM(2013)108final93EOServicesindustry,EARSCsurveyunderassignmentbyESA,September2013,http://earsc.
org/news/a-survey-into-the-state-and-health-of-the-european-services-industry94SpecialEurobarometer403/WaveEB79.
4–TNSopinion&Social33-EuropeanpublicprivatepartnershipstohelprealisingtheGEOvisionPublic-privatePartnerships(PPPs)ingeneralareincreasinglybeingusedbypolicymakersacrosstheworldasatooltodeliverontheirgrowthagendas.
Tobesuccessful,previousexperienceshaveshownthatsuch'organisedrelationships'betweenpublicandprivateorganisationsshouldbuilduponabalancedsharingofskillsandassets,risksandrewards.
Itcouldbeusefultoinvestigatethe'prosandcons'ofsuchmulti-stakeholders'modelsifappliedtotheEOprivatesectorinEuropeintheGEOSScontext.
SuchaninvestigationcouldtypicallytargettheobjectivestofacilitatethestrongestGEOSStake-upbytheEuropeanEOdownstreamindustry,andthedirectengagementoftheEuropeanbusinesssectorinthedevelopmentofthenextGEOSS.
Indeed,theEuropeanbusinesssectorcouldmostprobablycontributeonvariousgroundssuchasprovidingEOdatafromprivatelyowned(spaceornon-space)complementaryobservingcapacities,deliveringinteroperabilitysolutionsforuniversalaccesstodistributedinformationsystems,orgivingaccesstotoolsandprocessingcapabilitiesforthetransformationofEOdata.
AmajorformofPPPimplementationinFP7hasbeentheJointTechnologyInitiative(JTI),wherebytheUnionandindustryjointlyfundandimplementcertainareasoftheCommunity7thFrameworkProgramme.
AsnotedintheCommunicationfromtheCommissionof10July2013on"Public-privatepartnershipsinHorizon2020:apowerfultooltodeliveroninnovationandgrowthinEurope95,"JTIsinparticularrepresentaninnovativewayofimplementingtheUnion'sresearchandinnovationpolicy.
Theybringtogetherthefrontrunnersintermsofresearchandinnovationintheindustrialsectorsconcernedandallowthemtofocusandaligntheireffortsaroundstrategicresearchandinnovationagendas".
LighterschemescouldalsobeenvisagedsuchasEuropeanTechnologyPlatforms(ETPs)consistingofindustry-ledstakeholderforumsthatdevelopshorttolong-termresearchandinnovationagendasandroadmapsforpossibleactionatEUandnationallevels,possiblysupportedbyprivateandpublicfunding.
-AddressingthefullvaluechainfromEOresearchtoinnovationandmarketdeploymentThestrongfocusoftheHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeoninnovation,theinclusionofcallsforinnovationactivitiesthataimtobeclosertothemarketandtheavailabilityofSME-targetedcallsandinstrumentscouldbringopportunitiestoinvolveEOaddingvalueSMEsandtomaximiseeconomicimpactofEO-relatedresearchandinnovationactivities.
95COM(2013)494final344.
CONCLUSIONSinceitsinceptionin2005,theGEOinitiativehasgraduallyarticulateditsaddedvalueandmaturedovertime.
TheGEOSShasprogressivelyevolvedfromconcepttoactionandimplementation.
IthasnowreachedthestepwhereuserscouldstartbenefitingfromarangeofEOdatasets,amajorityofthembeingmadeaccessibleforreuseonafreeandopenbasis.
TheCommissionhasbeenamongstthekeyplayersintheGEO,actingasoneofthefourGEOco-chairsonbehalfoftheEuropeanGEOCaucus,providingmajorguidancefortheevolutionoftheinitiative,andsupportingtheGEOSSimplementationthroughsignificantresearchandinnovationinvestmentsduringthe7thFrameworkProgramme.
ThenextGEOdecade(period2016-2025)willbecrucialinbringingmorebenefitstousersandintensifyinguseandexploitationofamorediversifiedGEOSSofferintermsofEOdata,products,models,toolkitsandapplications.
TheGEOmandate,renewedfortenyearsontheoccasionoftheGEOSummitinGeneva,representsaremarkableopportunitytoenhancethebenefitsthattheGEOandtheGEOSScouldbringtoEuropeansociety.
EuropemightbuilduponsignificantassetstoimplementtheGEOSSthrough2025,mostimportantlytheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme,thenewCopernicusprogrammeandvariousEUpolicyinitiativesandlegislationsrelatednotablytoenvironment,spaceandthedigitalagendaoftheEU.
ConsultationsbytheCommissionin2013haveconfirmedthatmanychallengeslieaheadincludingGEOtasksandprojectstobecompleted,monitoringnetworkstobecoordinated,observationgapstobefilled,GEOinternationalinitiativestobesustainedandaGEOSStobebroughtintooperationoverthelongterm.
TheyhavealsoemphasizedthattheEUandtheGEOwouldbothbenefitfromacontinuedenhancementofastrongEUcomponentintheimplementationoftheGEOSSandfromanenhancedcoordinationatEuropeanandnationallevels.
Beforeembarkinginthisdirection,thevariousissuesoutlinedinthe3rdsectionofthisStaffWorkingDocumentwouldrequirefurtheranalysistohelpidentifyingpossibleactionsandalternativesandassessingtheirrespectiveimpacts.
35ANNEXEI–ListofacronymsAcronymDefinitionDABDiscoveryandAccessBrokerECEuropeanCommissionECMWFEuropeanCentreforMedium-RangeWeatherForecastsEEAEuropeanEnvironmentAgencyEOEarthObservationsERAEuropeanResearchAreaESAEuropeanSpaceAgencyESFRIEuropeanStrategyForumonResearchInfrastructuresEUEuropeanUnionEUMETSATEuropeanOrganisationfortheExploitationofMeteorologicalSatellitesEXCOM(GEO)ExecutiveCommitteeG8France,Germany,Italy,Japan,UnitedKingdom,UnitedStatesofAmerica,Canada,Russia96,EuropeanUnionGCIGEOSSCommonInfrastructureGCOSGlobalClimateObservingSystemGEOBONGEOBiodiversityObservingNetworkGEOGrouponEarthObservationsGeoCarbonGlobalCarbonObservingSystemGEOGLAMGlobalAgriculturalMonitoringinitiativeGEONETCastGEOSSglobalnetworkfordatabroadcastingGEOSSGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystemsGEOSSData-COREGEOSSDataCollectionofOpenResourcesforEveryoneGFOIGlobalForestObservingInitiativeGMESGlobalMonitoringforEnvironmentandSecurityGOOSGlobalOceanObservingSystemGTOSGlobalTerrestrialObservingSystemGWPGEOSSWebPortalHLWGGEOHighLevelWorkingGroupICTInformationandCommunicationTechnologiesJRCJointResearchCentreoftheEuropeanCommissionINSPIREInfrastructureforSpatialInformationintheEuropeanCommunityITInformationtechnologyIPWGImplementationPlanWorkingGroupPPPPublic-privatepartnershipsSBAs(GEO)SocietalBenefitAreas(alsoreferredtoassocietalchallenges)SDGSustainableDevelopmentGoalsSMEsSmallandMedium-sizedEnterprisesSPOTSatellitePourl'ObservationdelaTerre(SatelliteforobservationofEarth)UNUnitedNationsUNGGIMUNinitiativeonGlobalGeospatialInformationManagement96TillMarch201436ANNEXEII–GEObackgroundII.
1GEOhistoryinanutshellTheurgentneedforcoordinatedobservationsrelatingtothestateoftheEarthwasstronglyhighlightedin2002attheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentinJohannesburg(SouthAfrica)andinJune2003atthemeetingoftheHeadsofStateoftheGroupofEightIndustrializedCountries(G8)inEvian(France).
Asafollow-up,theinitialconceptforthefutureGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)wasproposedattheFirstEarthObservationSummitinWashington(USA)inJuly2003.
ThishappenedviaafirstDeclarationestablishingtheadhocintergovernmentalGrouponEarthObservations('adhocGEO')withthemandatetodraftafirst10-YearImplementationPlan.
TheconceptforGEOwasfurtheradvancedattheSecondEarthObservationSummitinTokyo(Japan)inApril2004,wherethe'adhocGEO'adoptedaFrameworkDocumentdefiningthescopeandintentofaGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS).
TheThirdEarthObservationSummit,heldinBrusselsinFebruary2005endorsedtheGEOSS10-YearImplementationPlanandestablishedtheintergovernmentalGrouponEarthObservations(GEO).
AtthisSummitnearly60governmentswerehostedbytheCommissionwhichwasrepresentedbyCommissionerDimasandCommissionerPotonik.
Sinceitsestablishment,theG8HeadsofStatehavegivendirectsupporttoGEO-GEOSSnotablyinGleneagles(UK)in2005,Heiligendamm(DE)in2007,Hokkaido(JP)in2008,L'Aquila(IT)in2009.
EarlyGEOachievementswerewelcomedontheoccasionoftheFourthGEOMinisterialSummitinCapetown(SouthAfrica)inNovember2007.
TheprogressiveevolutionofGEOSSfromconcepttoactionandimplementationwasnotedandamechanismwascalledfortoreachaconsensusontheimplementationoffutureGEOSSDataSharingPrinciples.
MinistersandHeadsofDelegationswhoparticipatedintheFifthGEOMinisterialSummitinBeijing(China)inNovember2010notedwithparticularsatisfactiontherefinedGEOSSStrategicTargetsfor2015,theGEOSSDataSharingImplementationGuidelinesandActionPlan,andtheestablishmentoftheinitialGEOSSCommonInfrastructure(GCI).
Theycommittedtomaximizethenumberofdatasetsmadeavailableonthebasisoffullandopenaccess,tocreateadistributedpoolofdocumenteddatasetswithfull,openandunrestrictedaccessatnomorethanthecostofreproductionanddistribution(theGEOSSDataCORE),andtodeveloppolicyframeworkspromotingthesharingofmoreopendata.
InJune2012,atthe'Rio+20'Summitonsustainabledevelopment,HeadsofStateandGovernmentsadoptedtheDeclaration"Thefuturewewant"whichrecognisesthe"importanceofspace-technology-baseddata,insitumonitoring,andreliablegeospatialinformationforsustainabledevelopmentpolicy-making,programmingandprojectoperations".
Italsorefersto"theeffortsindevelopingglobalenvironmentalobservingsystems(…)includingthroughtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems".
On17January2014,duringthesixthGEOMinisterialSummitinGeneva,MinistersandHeadsofDelegationsagreedtocontinuebuildingontheGEOvoluntarypartnershiptounleashthepowerofopenEarthobservationdataforanotherdecade.
TheydecidedtorenewGEOfortheperiod2016-2025andapprovedaprocedurefordevelopinganew10YearImplementationPlan.
ThisisreflectedinthemainoutputoftheSummit:theso-called'GenevaDeclaration'.
37II.
2GEOplansfortheimplementationoftheGEOSS-The10-YearImplementationPlan(2005-2015)ThecurrentGEOSS10YearImplementationPlancoverstheperiod2005-2015.
Itsummarizestheessentialsteps(definedin2005)tobeundertakenbytheglobalGEOcommunityofnationsandorganisationstoadvancetheGEOSStill2015.
The10YearImplementationPlanalsodefinesthemainmechanismsforcoordinatingandstrengtheningexistingEOsystemsofglobalinterest.
-TheGEOWorkPlan(2012-2015)TheGEOWorkPlansprovidethemoredetailedtask-orientedframeworksforimplementingtheGEOSS10-YearImplementationPlan.
Theseplansarelivingdocumentsthatcoverperiodsofthreeyearsandwhichareupdatedannually.
ThecurrentWorkPlancoverstheperiod2012-2015;itallowsvoluntarycontributorstoteamuparound26dedicatedGEOtasks.
LeadsandcontributorstotheWorkPlanassumetheirrolesonabest-effortbasis,voluntarily,inthespiritofadvancingGEOSS.
Thetasksbeingperformedcurrentlyarecategorisedasfollows:a)"Infrastructuretasks"featuringthephysicalcross-cuttingcomponentsofanoperationalandsustainableGEOSSCommonInfrastructure(GCI);b)"InstitutionsandDevelopmenttasks"focussingonreinforcingdatasharing,mobilisingresources,developingcapacity,engagingusers;c)"InformationforSocietalBenefitstasks"withanemphasisoninformation,tools,andend-to-endsystemstosupportdecision-makingacrossthenineSocietalBenefitAreasdefinedattheearlystageofGEO.
II.
3GEOmembershipTheGEOmembershipisorganisedintofiveregionalcaucuses–Europe,Africa,Asia-Oceania,theAmericasandtheCommonwealthofIndependentStates(CIS).
ItisopentoallMemberStatesoftheUnitedNationsandtotheCommission.
Inaddition,GEOwelcomes,asParticipatingOrganisations,intergovernmental,international,andregionalorganisationswithamandateinEarthobservationorrelatedactivities,subjecttoapprovalbytheGEOMembers.
Thecurrentpartnershipincludeskeyinternationalscientificprogrammes(suchastheinternationalprogrammeonbiodiversityscience-Diversitas97,theInternationalGeosphere-BiosphereProgramme-IGBP98andtheWorldClimateResearchProgramme-WCRP99),globalobservingsystems(suchastheGlobalOceanObservingSystem-GOOS100,theGlobalClimateObservingSystem-GCOS101andtheGlobalTerrestrialObservingSystem-GTOS102),UNconventions(suchastheUnitedNationsConventiononBiodiversity–-UNCBD103,theUnitedNationsConventiontoCombatDesertification-UNCCD104andtheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange-UNFCCC105)andothercommitteesinvolvedininternationalcoordinationactivitiessuchastheCEOS.
MembershipandparticipationarecontingentonformalendorsementoftheGEOImplementationPlanincludingtheGEOSSdatasharingprinciples.
97http://www.
diversitas-international.
org/98http://www.
igbp.
net/99http://www.
wcrp-climate.
org/100http://www.
ioc-goos.
org/101http://www.
wmo.
int/pages/prog/gcos/index.
phpname=AboutGCOS102http://www.
fao.
org/gtos/103http://www.
cbd.
int/104http://www.
unccd.
int/105http://unfccc.
int/38GEO'scurrentMembersinclude92countriesandtheCommission:AfricaAmericasAsiaandOceaniaCISEuropeAlgeriaBurkinaFasoCameroonCentralAfricanRepublicCongoRepublicoftheCoted'IvoireEgyptEthiopiaGabonGhanaGuinea-BissauGuineaRepublicofMadagascarMaliMauritiusMoroccoNigerNigeriaSenegalRepublicofSeychellesSouthAfrica(GEOCo-Chair)SudanTunisiaUgandaArgentinaBahamasBelizeBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCostaRicaHondurasMexicoPanamaParaguayPeruUnitedStates(GEOCo-Chair)AustraliaBahrainBangladeshChina(GEOCo-Chair)IndiaIndonesiaIranIsraelJapanKoreaRepublicofMalaysiaNepalNewZealandPakistanPhilippinesThailandKazakhstanMoldovaRussianFederationTajikistanUkraineUzbekistanAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzechRepublicDenmarkEstoniaEuropeanCommission(GEOCo-Chair)FinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyLatviaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPortugalRomaniaSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUnitedKingdomTherearecurrently77ParticipatingOrganisationsinGEO.
Thefulllistisavailablefrom:http://www.
earthobservations.
org/pos.
phpII.
4GEOgovernanceTheGEOgovernancestructureconsistsofaPlenary,anExecutiveCommittee(EXCOM),aGEOSecretariat(hostedbyWMO),aswellasImplementationBoardsandWorkingGroups.
TheGEOPlenaryandtheGEOExecutiveCommitteearecurrentlyco-chairedbyTheCommission,SouthAfrica,TheUnitedStatesandChina.
ThePlenarymeetsatleastonceperyeartoadopttheannualGEOWorkPlan,thecomingyear'sbudgetandtoreceivereportsfromtheExecutiveCommittee.
Thelattercommitteeconsistsof13membersfromacrossthefivecaucuses.
InadditiontotheCommission,thetwootherEuropeanmembersofEXCOMarecurrently,EstoniaandItaly.
EuropeanEXCOMmembers(apartfromtheCommission)serveforaperiodoftwoyears.
II.
5ExamplesofinternationalinitiativesinitiatedbytheGEOTheBluePlanetinitiativelaunchedinNovember2012seekstoraisepublicawarenessoftheroleoftheoceansintheEarthsystemandtheirimpactsonhumankind.
ThisinitiativeseekstocoordinatethevariousmarineactivitieswithinGEO,toadvocateandadvancethe39establishmentandmaintenanceofaglobalobservingnetworkfortheoceans.
AfirstHorizon2020callin2014isconcentratingonsupportingthisinitiativewiththeaimofstrengtheningin-situAtlanticoceanobservationsforabettermanagementandsustainableexploitationofthemaritimeresources.
TheGEOBiodiversityObservingNetwork(GEOBON)launchedin2008hastheobjectiveofimprovingterrestrial,freshwaterandmarinebiodiversityobservationsgloballyandmaketheirbiodiversitydata,informationandforecastsmorereadilyaccessibletopolicymakers,managers,expertsandotherusers.
GEOBON(supportedbytheFP7projectEUBON)hasbeenrecognisedbythePartiestotheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)andhassubmittedareportentitled"AdequacyofBiodiversityObservationSystemstosupporttheCBD2020Targets"totheCBD.
TheGlobalAgriculturalMonitoringinitiative(GEOGLAM)wascalledforbytheGroupofTwenty(G20)AgricultureMinistersinJune2011.
TheinitiativeformspartoftheG20ActionPlanonFoodPriceVolatilityandisdesignedtoenhanceworldwideagriculturalproductionestimates.
BeginninginAugust2013,GEOGLAM(supportedbytheFP7projectSIGMA)starteddeliveringmonthlyglobalcropoutlookstotheAgricultureMarketInformationSystem's(AMIS)MarketMonitorpublication,hostedbytheFoodAgricultureOrganisationoftheUnitedNations(FAO).
TheGEOCarbonInitiative(supportedbytheFP7projectGEOCarbon)isaglobalefforttodevelopandmakeavailableintegrateddataandinformationabouttheimpactofhumanactivitiesandnaturalprocessesonthecarboncycleatthenational,regionalandgloballevel.
TheGlobalForestObservingInitiative(GFOI).
ThisGEOInitiativehelpsnationstomonitortheirforestsandforestcarbonstocks.
Thisinitiativefosterssustaineduseofsatelliteandgroundobservationsfornationalforestmonitoring,andformeasuring,reportingandverificationofforestareas,carbonstocksandgreenhousegasemissions.
TheGlobalMercuryObservationSystem(GMOS)launchedin2010doesmonitormercuryanditscompoundsinair,precipitation,surfacewater,soil,sediments,vegetationandbiota.
Sharingdatathroughthisnetworkhelpsscientistsanddecisionmakerstounderstandmercurytransportanddepositionto,andfluxesfrom,terrestrialandaquaticecosystems.
TheGMOSmonitoringnetwork(supportedbytheFP7projectGMOS)hasnowbeenfullyestablished.
GMOSisexpectedtodirectlysupporttheimplementationoftheMinamataConvention(adoptedby140nationsinOctober2013).
TheGeohazardSupersitesinitiativeaimsatfulfillinggeospatialinformationneedsforthepredictionandmonitoringofgeologicalhazards,suchasearthquakes,volcanoesandlandinstability.
Thisinitiative(supportedbytheFP7projectsMEDSUV,MARsiteandFUTUREVOLC)conductslong-termobservationexperimentstoaccessandretrievedataandintegrateddataproductsnotablyforimprovedestimatesofvolcanicandseismicunrest;betterresponseduringperiodsofactivity;improvedforecastsofashdispersion;andmoreaccurate,reliablehazardassessments.
40ANNEXEIII–ExamplesofFP7contributionstoGEOandGEOSSThefollowingexamplesofFP7projectshavebeenselectedtoillustratetheEuropeansupportgiventovariousGEOsocietalchallenges,internationalinitiatives,andthedevelopmentoftheGCI.
Theyrepresentalimitedsampleofthe50FP7projectsfundedbytheThemeEnvironment(includingglobalchange)undertheCooperationProgramme.
ContributiontotheGEOSocietalBenefitAreaonclimatechangeFP7projectGEOCARBON:OperationalGlobalCarbonObservingSystem(www.
geocarbon.
net/)Scope:GEOCARBONaimstointegrateandanalyseahigherquantityandqualityofCO2andCH4datafrominsituandremotesensingobservationsencompassingatmosphere,landandoceansinordertoestablishanoperationalintegratedGlobalCarbonObservationandAnalysisSystem.
AglobalintegrationofthecurrentcarbonmonitoringeffortsandtheirdatasetsispursuedinordertobuildanoperationalGEOSSforcarbon.
Itisenvisagedthatanevendenseroperationalmonitoringsystemsisneededforthefuture.
Results:newglobalmapsofForestChange,WoodHarvest,ForestAgeandForestBiomasshavebeenproduced.
TheresearchfindingsontheCH4budgetresultedinthepublication(NatureGeoscienceMagazine2013)ofasynthesisoftheglobalmethanesourcesandsinksoverthepastthreedecades.
Aforthcomingoutcomeistheprovisionofanaggregatedandharmonizedsetofdataandinformationoncarbonpoolsandfluxes,rangingfromglobaltoregionalscale,withanincreasedresolutionandaccuracy,andareduceduncertainty.
Thiswillimprovetheglobalunderstandingofcarboncycleanditsroleintheclimatechangesystem,bothfromascientificaswellasfromapolicyperspective.
Avarietyofinnovativetoolsforvisualizinganddownloadingclimateandcarbonrelatedinformationhavebeendeveloped(i.
e.
www.
globallometree.
organdhttp://biomass.
geo-wiki.
org).
PolicyRelevance:GEOCARBONcontributestotheimplementationoftheGEO2012-2015WorkPlanandtotheachievementsofGEO'sStrategicTargetsonClimate,towardbuildinganoperationalGEOSSforcarbon.
GEOCARBONfulfilstherequirementforanuninterruptedprovisionofaccurateandreliabledataandinformationonenvironmentalissuestousersinchargeofpolicymakinginrelationtothecarboncycleandclimatechange.
TheGEO-CarbonOfficeisprovidingadviceandcoordinationtotheGEOTaskCL-02on"GlobalCarbonObservationsandAnalysis".
TheGEOCARBONresultshavedirectpolicy-relevantimplications,including:(i)identifyingfeasibleandeffectiveemissionreductiontargets(tobeincludedininternationaltreaties)tokeepthetemperatureincreasebelowacceptablelevels;(ii)verifyingtheefficacyofmitigationpolicies(necessarytomeettheobjectivesoftheinternationaltreaties);(iii)creatingthebaselineofcarbonpoolsandfluxes(againstwhichthosepoliciescanbeverified);(iv)improvingtheabilitytopredictfuturechanges(includingthoseduetotheimplementationoftheGHGmanagementstrategies);and(iv)developthemosttimelyandappropriatemitigationandadaptationactions(accordingtotheprevisionsbasedontheanalysisoftheobservations).
ContributiontotheGEOSocietalBenefitAreaonhealthFP7projectEO2HEAVEN:EarthObservationandEnvironmentalModellingfortheMitigationofHealthRisks(www.
eo2heaven.
org/)Scope:toenhanceunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenenvironmentalchangesandtheirimpactonhumanhealththroughmonitoringchangesinducedbyhumanactivities,withemphasisonatmosphericpollutionandwater-bornediseases.
EO2HEAVENinvolvespublichealthstakeholderswithtechnologyandserviceprovidersinboththeEarthobservationandinsituenvironmentalmonitoringdomains.
Theprojectaddressesthreecasestudies,usinghealth,remotesensing(satellite),andinsitudata:(i)TheDresden(Germany)casestudyinvestigatedcardiovascularandrespiratorydiseasescausedbyairpollution,asdidthe(ii)Durban(SouthAfrica)casestudy.
(iii)TheMozambiquecasestudyaddressedthegapincurrentunderstandingofthedynamicsofcholeraandusedobservationdataofbothairqualityandwaterqualitytostudycholeraoutbreaksandspread.
41Results:EO2HEAVENdesignedanddevelopedmethodsandtoolstocorrelateenvironmentaldatawithexposureandhealthdata,tosupportthecollectionandintegrationofdata,andtovisualiseresultsintheirgeographicalcontext.
EO2HEAVENdevelopedmethodologies,correlationmodels,spatialdataservices(usingStandardsoftheOpenGeospatialConsortium)andapplicationssupporting:DiscoveryandacquisitionofenvironmentaldataIntegrationofheterogeneousEarthobservations(satellite,in-situandfielddata)ExtractionoftimeseriesandvisualizationofgraphsandmapsDevelopmentofmodelsofhealtheffectsDevelopmentofriskmapsDevelopmentofpredictionsforearlywarningsystemsEO2HEAVENspecifiedandimplementedaSpatialInformationInfrastructure(SII)anddevelopedasoftwareplatformfor:(i)scientiststofind,access,processandexploreenvironmentalandhealthdataand(ii)decisionmakerstovisualizesummarizedinformation.
Thisopenarchitectureisbasedoninternationalstandardsandgeospatialwebservicessupportingthelarge-scaleinitiativeGEOSSofGEO.
SpecialemphasiswasplacedonachievingsustainabilitythroughcapacitybuildinginstakeholderandusertrainingworkshopsinUganda,SouthAfricaandGermany.
PolicyRelevance:EO2HEAVENcontributedtotheprovisionoftimelydata,informationandexpertiseforassessingthestateoftheenvironmentandtheimpactonhealth.
Thisenabledpolicy-makerstodecideonappropriatemeasuresforprotectingtheenvironmentandhealthandtomonitortheeffectivenessofpoliciesandmeasuresimplemented.
Theseprocessesinvolvedmanyplayersatalllevelsofgovernment,withintheCommission,theEEA,theWHO,WMO,ESA,GEO,andnational,regionalandlocalauthorities.
EO2HEAVENcontributedbestpracticesandproofofconceptimplementationstoGEOSSpilotactivities.
EO2HEAVENhadstronginteractionswiththeGEOCommunityofPractice"HealthandEnvironment"andledtheGEOSBAhealthactivitiesintheGEOArchitectureImplementationPilotphase5(AIP-5).
ThemainengagementofEO2HEAVENwasfacilitatedthroughactiveparticipationintheGEOSSArchitectureImplementationPilot(AIP)andCommunityofPractice(CoP)activities.
EO2HEAVENhascontributedresultstoHE-01-C1Air-borneDiseases,AirQualityandAeroallergensandHE-01-C2Water-borneDiseases,WaterQualityandRiskfromitsrespectivecasestudies.
EO2HEAVENplacedaspecialfocusoncommunityandcapacitybuildingasacontributiontoTaskID-02.
ContributiontotheGEOSocietalBenefitAreaondisastersFP7projectFUTUREVOLC:AEuropeanvolcanologicalsupersiteinIceland:amonitoringsystemandnetworkforthefuture(http://futurevolc.
hi.
is/)Scope:FUTUREVOLCformspartoftheGEOSupersitesclusteringinitiativewhichfosterstheintegrationof,andopenaccesstospacebasedandin-situobservationsforimprovedmonitoringandevaluationofgeologicallyactiveregionsofEuropepronetonaturalhazards.
FUTUREVOLCisestablishinganinnovativevolcanomonitoringsysteminIcelandanddevelopingnewEOmethodstowardsbestpracticeinearlywarningspreparationforfutureglobaleruptionresponses.
Results:TheprojectdeliversmonitoringofthemostactivevolcanoesinIcelandlocatedundericecapssuchasMrdalsjkullandVatnajkull.
Closemonitoringofthesesubglacialvolcanoeswillincreasepreparednesslevelandenabletrackingofmagmamovementsthroughmigrationofmicroseismicityandthroughdetailedanalysisofearthquakesourcemechanisms.
Theemphasisisonreal-timeprocessingofdetectedsignalsforearlywarningofvolcaniceruptions.
TheprojectcooperatescloselywithMARsite,anotherFP7Supersitesproject,whichdevelopsseismicinstrumentssuitablefordeploymentintheice.
PolicyRelevance:FUTUREVOLCcontributestobuildingtheresilienceofnationsandcommunitiestodisasters.
ItcontributestotheGEO2012-2015WorkPlanbyprovidingeasyaccesstodatafromspace,airandground-basedmonitoringbefore,duringorafteravolcaniceruption.
TheprojecthasagreedtoanOpenDataaccesspolicycontributingthustoGEOSSintermsofEuropeanpreparednessforvolcaniceruptions.
TheprojectdevelopsinparticulartechnicalanddatastandardstofacilitatedatasharinginGEOSS.
Ataninternationallevel,theprojectcollaborateswithother42SupersitesprojectsdirectlyandthroughEPOS.
Theprojecthasstrongcollaborationwithmanyinternationalprojects,andhassubmittedaproposaltoCEOS,theCommitteeonEarthObservingSatellites,forestablishingIcelandVolcanoespermanentsupersiteundertheGEOGeohazardSupersitesandNaturalLaboratoryinitiative.
FUTUREVOLCinvolvesclosecollaborationbetweenacademics,publicinstitutionsandSMEsinthedeliveryofvolcanomonitoringmethods.
TheSMEsintheFUTUREVOLCconsortiumcontributetothedevelopmentoftherelevantEuropeanindustrialsector,bydevelopinganddeliveringinfra-redcamerasandremotesensingsolutionstodetectandmeasurehazardousashparticlesintheair;newinstrumentstomeasureparticlesizeforashfallmeasurementsfromeruptionplumes,newoperationalalgorithmstoextractashinformationfromradarobservationsandnewseismometersandtechniquestooperateonicecapsthatcanbeappliedatotherice-coveredvolcanoesandonicesheetsworldwide.
ContributiontotheGEOSocietalBenefitAreaonbiodiversityFP7projectEUBON:Assessingglobalbiologicalresources:theEuropeancontributiontoGEOBON,theGlobalEarthObservationNetwork(www.
eubon.
eu/)Scope:EUBONaimsistodeliveracomprehensive"EuropeanBiodiversityPortal"forallstakeholdercommunitiesandstrategiesforaglobalimplementationofGEOBONandsupportingthenewIntergovernmentalscience-policyPlatformonBiodiversityandEcosystemServices(IPBES).
EUBONwillstrengthenEuropeancapacitiesandinfrastructuresforenvironmentalinformationmanagementoverall.
Results:Asystemthatfacilitatesopenaccesstotaxonomicdataisbeingdevelopedtoallowasustainableprovisionofhighqualitydatatopartnersandusers,includinge-scienceinfrastructureprojectsaswellasinternationalinitiativesonbiodiversityinformatics.
EUBONisworkingonaninnovativeapproachintermsofintegrationofbiodiversityinformationsystemfromon-groundtoremotesensingdata,foraddressingpolicyandinformationneedsinatimelyandcustomizedway.
TheprojectisensuringintegrationbetweensocialnetworksofscienceandpolicyandtechnologicalnetworksofinteroperatingITinfrastructures.
Thiswillenableastablenewopen-accessplatformforsharingbiodiversitydataandtoolstobecreated.
EUBON's30partnersfrom18countriesaremembersofnetworksofbiodiversitydata-holders,monitoringorganisations,andleadingscientificinstitutions.
EUBONisbuildingonexistingcomponents,inparticularGBIF,LifeWatchinfrastructures,andnationalbiodiversitydatacentres.
PolicyRelevance:Sustainablegovernanceofourbiologicalresourcesdemandsreliablescientificknowledgetobeaccessibleandapplicabletotheneedsofsociety.
Thefactthatcurrentbiodiversityobservationsystemsandenvironmentaldatasetsareunbalancedincoverageandnotwellintegratedbringstheneedofanewsystemwhichwillfacilitateaccesstothisknowledgeandwilleffectivelyimprovetheworkinthefieldofbiodiversityobservationingeneral.
InlightoftheIntergovernmentalscience-policyPlatformonBiodiversityandEcosystemServices(IPBES),suchanetworkandapproachareimperativeforattainingefficientprocessesofdatacollation,analysisandprovisioningtostakeholders.
ContributiontotheGEOSocietalBenefitAreaonenergyFP7projectEnerGEO:EarthObservationforMonitoringandAssessmentoftheEnvironmentalImpactofEnergyUse(www.
energeo-project.
eu/)Scope:toprovideaversatilemodellingplatformtoenableplanners,environmentalscientistsandgovernmentstocalculate,forecastandmonitortheenvironmentalimpactofchangesintheenergymixonlocal,regionalandglobalscales.
TheintegrationofEarthobservationdatawithdifferentstate-of-the-artmodellingtoolsandpackageswillallowsocio-economicimpactandenvironmentalcosttobecalculated.
43Results:Intheareasofsolar,wind,biomassandfossilfuels,EnerGEOhascreatedanonlineportalallowingusersaccesstothelatestspatialinformationwithwhichtomakeinformeddecisions.
EnerGEOdeliveredforthefirsttimeacontinuous10yeartimeseriesofbioenergypotentialforEuropeandtheGlobestartingin2000andendingin2050.
Itdemonstratedastate-of-the-artmodellingsystemwhichquantifiesthecontributionoffossilfueltoairpollution.
EnerGEOmadeavailableasolarsiterankingservicethroughaweb-baseddecisionsupporttoolforlocatingsuitableregionsforsolarpowerplants.
TheEnerGEOwindpilotallowsdecisionmakerstocomparecostofvarioustypesofenergyproductionbutalsotheirimpactontheenvironment.
PolicyRelevance:TheprojectisrelevanttothedevelopmentofenergystrategiesintheEUasithasdefinedfourscenariostoillustratethecapabilityofthemodellingclustertoassesstheimpactofcontrastingenergymixes:1.
Baseline:continuationofcurrentEuropeanpolicieswithregardtolimitationofCO22.
OpenEurope:SolarimporttoEuropefromNorthAfrica,highbiomassshare,nuclearphase-out3.
IslandEurope:noelectricityimportsfromoutsideEurope,renewableenergyuselikeinOpenEuropeorhigher,nuclearenergyusecontinued/extended4.
MaximumRenewableEnergy:renewableenergypenetrationcloseto100%TheEnerGEOconsortiumincludesactiveparticipationoftheEnergy-CommunityofPracticeofGEOwithinitsconsortium,anddeliversasignificantcontributiontotheGEO-Energytasks,givingEUastrongleadershipinthisGEOSocietalChallenge.
ContributiontoimplementingtheGEOSSCommonInfrastructureFP7projectEUROGEOSS:AEuropeanapproachtoGEOSS(www.
eurogeoss.
eu/)Objectives:TheEuroGEOSSFP7projectaimedtobetterconnectwithinGEOSSexistingEarthscienceinformationsystemsalreadydevelopedbydifferentscientificcommunitiesacrosstheglobe.
Ultimately,theprojectwastargetinganincreasedcapacityforscientistsfromdifferentdisciplinestoworktogethersharingdata,models,andprocesses,todevelopbetterunderstandingandpredictionsofenvironmentalphenomenaandsocialimpacts.
Theemphasisoftheprojectwasplacedonsystemsaddressingforestsmanagement,droughts,andbiodiversity.
Themodularapproachdeployedintheprojecttoconnectsystemsanddisciplinarydomainswasconceivedsoastomakeitpossibletoextendtheprocesstootherapplicationsandsocietalbenefitareas.
Toachievethisobjective,anessentialtaskofEuroGEOSSconsistedinengagingfurthertherelatedscientificcommunitiesintheconstructionanduseofGEOSS.
Results:Athree-stageapproachwasfollowedbytheconsortiumstartingby(i)betterconnectingtoeachothertherelevantsystemsatlocal,national,andgloballevels,then(ii)achievinghorizontal,multi-disciplinaryinteroperability,andfinally(iii)sustainingcapacitybuildingeffort.
Intheend,EuroGEOSShasbeenaverysuccessfulproject,whichhasdemonstratedtheaddedvalueofmulti-disciplinaryresearchandmulti-scaleanalysisineachofthethreethematicareasofforestry,droughtsandbiodiversity.
Thenewscientificinsightsachieved,andnewwebservicesdevelopedtoprocessdataandmodelsareatruecontributiontothescientificcommunityandGEOSS.
TheBrokeringframeworkdevelopedbytheprojectthathasunderpinnedthisefforthasbeenusedbytheGEOtoenhancethecapabilityoftheGEOSS.
ThesuccessofthisapproachwasrecognisedattheGEOPlenaryinNovember2011,resultingintheadoptionoftheEuroGEOSSDataandAccessBroker(DAB)asakeynewtechnologypoweringtheGEOSSCommonInfrastructure.
PolicyRelevance:Resultsfromthisprojectwillhavealastingimpactonfutureresearchinthethreethematicareasandinthetechnologyfieldofspatialdatainfrastructures.
TheresearchundertakeninEuroGEOSShashadadirectimpactontherevisionoftheGEOSSarchitecture,hencesupportingtheGEOvisionsupportedatMinisteriallevelinseveralGEOsummitssince2003inresponsetothecallforgreaterEarthobservationcoordinationexpressedbyministersattheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentin2002andsubsequentdeclarationsoftheG8Groupoftheeightleadingindustrialisedcountries.
44ContributiontoimplementingtheGEOSSCommonInfrastructureFP7projectGEOWOW:GEOSSInteroperabilityforWeather,OceanandWater(www.
geowow.
eu/)Objectives:TheGEOWOWFP7projectaimstobringnewdiscovery,accessandusefunctionalitiestotheGEOSSCommonInfrastructure(GCI)whichconstitutesthearchitecturalframeworkoftheglobalGEOSSsystemofsystems.
GEOWOWshouldimprovesignificantlytheGCIinteroperability,standardisation,performanceandoperability,especiallythroughbringing(i)newdevelopmentsinthefieldofdistributedarchitecturalmodelfederatingEarthobservationandotherEarthSciencedata,(ii)methodsforsemanticdiscoveryandharmonisedaccesstodistributedheterogeneousdata,services,andmodels,and(iii)genericservicesfordatadissemination,access,useandprocessing.
TheprojectwillalsoconsolidatetheGEOSSDataCOREthroughpromotingthecontributionofdatasetstobesharedasfullandopenresources.
Results:After18monthsofactivities,theGEOWOWconsortiumhascompleteditssurveyofinfrastructureanddatarequirementsacrosstheweather,oceanandwatercommunities.
IncollaborationwiththeGEOcommunity,theyhavealsoproduceda"GEOWOWVision"documentprovidingalong-termstrategyforanevolutionoftheGCI.
ThecurrentGCIbrokeringframework(developedinthecontextofthepreviousFP7projectEUROGEOSS)hasbeenenhanced.
Semanticdiscoveryisbeingprogressivelyimplementedbasedonalignedcontrolledvocabularies.
SeveraldatausescenariosarebeingimplementedtotestnewGEOSSfunctionalities,addressinteroperabilityissuesrelatedtodataaccessfromdifferentproviders,multi-modelcombinations,anduseofprocessingtools.
TheyincludetrackforecastingofTropicalcyclonesandstorms,riverdischargeandvulnerabilityofoceanecosystemstoglobaltemperatureandoceanacidificationchanges.
Inthefuture,theprojectwillfocusonnewtoolsincludingaDataCleansingTool,aDeveloperCloudSandbox,aCloudControllerandaresourceregistrationWidget.
PolicyRelevance:TheresearchundertakeninGEOWOWwillhaveadirectimpactontherevisionoftheGEOSSarchitecture,hencesupportingtheGEOvisionsupportedatMinisteriallevelinseveralGEOsummitssince2003inresponsetothecallforgreaterEarthobservationcoordinationexpressedbyministersattheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentin2002andsubsequentdeclarationsoftheG8Groupoftheeightleadingindustrialisedcountries.
Inaddition,theprojectwillmakesignificantcontributionstointernationalstandardsrelatedtogeospatialinformationandsupportinnovationandthecreationofresearch-ledjobsinSMEs.
45ANNEXEIV–BackgroundinformationontheEUCopernicusprogrammeInterestinspace-enabledEarthobservationhasbeengrowingsubstantiallyoverthelasttwodecades.
TheprecursoroftheCopernicusprogrammewastheGMESinitiativeforGlobalMonitoringforEnvironmentandSecurity.
GMESwasinitiatedin1998,oneyearafterthesignatureoftheKyotoprotocol,asaresultofthe'BavenoManifesto'.
ThisManifestowhichoriginatedwithstrongCommission(JRC)leadership,wasstressingontheneedforaEuropeanstrategyinthefieldofenvironmentalmonitoringtoallowEuropeplayingamajorroleattheinternationallevelintacklingglobalenvironmentalissues.
Thisdeclarationwascallingforalong-termEuropeancommitmenttodevelopingenvironmentalmonitoringservices,makinguseofEuropeanskillsandtechnologiesincludingspacetechnologies.
GMESwasthenintendedtobecomeapillaroftheEUspacestrategy.
GEOwasconceivedatthefirstEarthObservationSummitinWashingtonin2003,andestablishedattheEarthObservationSummitofBrusselsin2005asamajorstepforwardinpromotingintergovernmentalcoordinationandcooperationofEarthobservations(insituandspacedata)atgloballevel.
Enteringprogressivelyintooperationsfrom2014onwards,theEUCopernicusprogrammeisthemostambitiouscivilEarthobservationprogrammeinexistence.
Itsmainobjectivesarethefollowing:(a)monitoringtheEarthtosupporttheprotectionoftheenvironmentandtheeffortsofcivilprotectionandcivilsecurity;(b)maximisingsocio-economicbenefits,therebysupportingtheEurope2020Strategyanditsobjectivesofsmart,sustainableandinclusivegrowthbypromotingtheuseofEarthobservationinapplicationsandservices;(c)fosteringthedevelopmentofacompetitiveEuropeanspaceandservicesindustryandmaximisingopportunitiesforEuropeanenterprisestodevelopandprovideinnovativeEarthobservationsystemsandservices;(d)ensuringautonomousaccesstoenvironmentalknowledgeandkeytechnologiesforEarthobservationandgeoinformationservices,therebyenablingEuropetoachieveindependentdecision-makingandaction;(e)supportingandcontributingtoEuropeanpoliciesandfosteringglobalinitiatives,suchasGEOSS.
Copernicusprovidesasystemthroughwhichvastamountsofdata,acquiredfromEuropeanspacemissionsandotherremotesensingandinsitusensors,arefedintosixthematicinformationservicesrelatedrespectivelyto:landmanagement,marineenvironment,atmosphere,emergencyresponse,security,andclimatechange.
TheCopernicusinfrastructurehelpstoguaranteecontinuityoverthemediumterm,toensureEuropeanindependenceregardingstrategicEarthobservationdataflows,andtoprovidegreatercertaintyondataavailabilityfortheusers,whichisalsoanenablerforgrowthinthedownstreamsector.
ThefirstsatelliteoftheSentinelseries(Sentinel-1A)hasbeenlaunchedinApril2014andshouldbefollowed(ayearlater)bythelaunchesofSentinel-2AandSentinel-3A,and(lateron)bytherecurrentunitsSentinel-1B,-2Band-3B(annexeV).
WiththeprogressivedeploymentoftheCopernicusspacecomponents,thecontinuousstreamofuserproductswillcontinuetoincreaseovertime.
Inparallel,twooutofthesixCopernicusservices(theEmergencyResponseandLandMonitoringServices)arealreadydeliveringoperational46products.
Thefourotherservices(MarineEnvironmentMonitoring,AtmosphereMonitoring,ClimateChangeandsecurity)areexpectedtobecomeoperationalinthenextfewyears.
TheEUhasmadeimportantstepstoensurefirmandlong-termlegalbasisfortheCopernicusprogramme.
TheEuropeanParliamentandtheCouncilhaverecentlyreachedanagreementontheCopernicusProgramme,andtheCopernicusRegulation(Regulation(EU)No377/2104)106enteredintoforceon25April2014.
ThisregulationextendedtherequirementfordedicatedmissiondataandCopernicusinformationtobemadeavailableonafull,openandfree-of-chargebasis.
AspartoftheMultiannualFinancialFramework(MFF),theEUisdevotingEUR4.
2billiontotheCopernicusprogrammeoverthenextseven-yearperiod.
TheCommission,actingonbehalfoftheEU,isresponsiblefortheoverallCopernicusprogramme,settingrequirementsandmanagingtheservices.
TheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA)107hastheresponsibilityoftheoverallcoordinationoftheCopernicusSpaceComponent(CSC)andisinchargeoftheoperationofSentinel-1(radar),Sentinel-2(high-resolutionopticalmission),Sentinel-3(mediumresolutionimagingofland)andtheSentinel-5(lowEarthorbitatmosphericchemistryprecursormission),aswellasofthemonitoringoftheevolutionoftheuserrequirementsoftheoverallsystem.
TheEuropeanOrganisationfortheExploitationofMeteorologicalSatellites(EUMETSAT)108hasthemandatetosupplyweatherandclimate-relatedsatellitedata,imagesandproducts24hoursaday,365daysayeartotheNationalMeteorologicalServicesofourMemberandCooperatingStatesinEurope,andotherusersworldwide.
AspartofCopernicus,EUMETSATwillberesponsiblefortheoperationofSentinel-3(oceanaltimetrypart),Sentinel-4(geostationaryatmosphericchemistrymission),Sentinel-5(lowEarthorbitatmosphericchemistryprecursormission)andSentinel-6(Jason-CSaltimetrymission).
TheEuropeanEnvironmentAgency(EEA)109inpartnershipwithitsmemberandcooperatingcountriesoperatesEionet110,theEuropeanenvironmentinformationandobservationnetwork,toprovidetimelyandquality-assureddata,informationandexpertiseforassessingthestateoftheenvironmentinEuropeandthepressuresactinguponit.
InCopernicus,theEEAisresponsibleforthecoordinationofthedemandforinsitudatabythevariousservicesandtheestablishmentofagreementswiththedatasuppliers.
TheEEA,togetherwiththeJointResearchCentre(JRC),isalsoinvolvedinthemanagementoftheCopernicusserviceforLandmonitoring.
TheEuropeanCentreforMedium-RangeWeatherForecasts(ECMWF)111isparticularlyrenownedforitsoperationalcapacitytoprovideoperationalmedium-rangeweatherforecastsandextended-rangeseasonalforecast,aswellasuniquesuper-computingfacilityforscientificresearch.
InCopernicus,ECMWFhasexpresseditsinterestingettinginvolvedinthemanagementoftheCopernicusservicesonClimatechangeandatmospheremonitoring.
CopernicusprovidesacriticalframeworkfortheachievementofastrongandvisibleEuropeancontributiontoGEOSS.
Thisisnotonlytrueconsideringsatellite-basedobservations,butalsoforin-situnetworks.
"CopernicusshouldbeconsideredasaEuropeancontributiontobuildingtheGlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems(GEOSS)106OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L122,24.
04.
2014,p.
44107http://www.
esa.
int/108http://www.
eumetsat.
int/website/home/index.
html109http://www.
eea.
europa.
eu/110https://www.
eionet.
europa.
eu/about111http://www.
ecmwf.
int/47developedwithintheframeworkoftheGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)"(recital8oftheCopernicusRegulation112).
TheCopernicusClimateChangeService(CCS)willprovideasignificantcontributiontotheaimsoftheGEOSocietalchallengeonclimate.
Specifically,theCopernicusClimateChangeServicewillcontributetotheharmonisationandqualitycontrolofclimatedatarecordsavailablethroughtheenvisagedClimateIndicatorDataStore,aswellasthedevelopmentofconcreteanddedicatedservicesforpolicythroughtheSectorialInformationSystem.
TheCopernicusClimateChangeServicewouldbenefitfromabroadrequirementdefinitionprocesswhichisaccessiblethroughtheGEOstakeholdercommunity.
TheCopernicusLandMonitoringService(LMS)hasalreadyestablishedmanylinkstoGEO.
TheLandservicesupportsnotablytheGEOGLAMinitiativeonfoodsecuritywiththeprovisionoflowtomediumresolutionproductsandprovidesinformationtotheJointExperimentforCropAssessmentandMonitoring(JECAM)113validationsites.
TheCopernicusLandserviceisalsocontributingtotheGEOBONinitiativeonbiodiversityviasupporttotheDigitalObservatoryforProtectedAreas(DOPA)114managedbytheCommission(JRC),andtheprovisionoflowtomediumresolutionGlobalLandproducts.
TheEuropeanEnvironmentAgency(EEA)isensuringtheco-leadershipofactivitiesonlandcoverproductsvalidation.
ThePan-EUcomponentoftheCopernicusLandServicecouldbemainstreamedatgloballevelasagoodpracticeexampleviatheGEOlandcoverinitiative.
TheEEAisalsoleadingthedevelopmentoftheInsitucomponentofGEOSSwhichbuildsuponresultsoftheFP7GISCprojectforcoordinationandopenaccesstoin-situdata.
TheCopernicusEmergencyManagementService(EMS)hasbeendevelopedinthelastdecadethroughaseriesofRTDprojectsandinternationalcollaborations.
TheCommission,throughtheJRC,isresponsibleforthetechnicalcoordinationoftheEMS,ensuringemergencymappingnotablyattheserviceoftheCommissionandtheEUMemberStates.
IncollaborationwithGEOandUNISDR,usecasesofEMSproductscanbedevelopedtodemonstratetheuseofEOproductstoinformpolicyandpracticeindisasterriskreduction.
TheEuropeanmappingserviceoftheEMS,forinstance,providescivilprotectionauthoritiesandhumanitarianaidagencieswithtimelyandrelevantinformationbasedonsatelliteimageryandotherdataindisastermanagementcontextsfromriskreductionandpreparednesstoresponseandrecovery.
TheCopernicusAtmosphereMonitoringService(AMS)willbeoperationalduringtheGEOpost-2015period.
Theservicewillprovideinformationforsocietalbenefitsinthedomainsofhealth(airpollutionanddust),climate(greenhousegasesandaerosol),energy(aerosolandradianceinformationforsolarenergyplanning).
TheCopernicusMarineService(CMS)couldcontributeinformationproductsindirectsupporttoseveralGEOsocietalchallenges:climatethroughlinksestablishedwiththeGOOS,weatherthroughmonitoringessentialvariablesofoceanicecosystems(e.
g.
watertemperature,salinity,pHandpCO2,phytoplanktonspeciescompositionandproductivityandmarineresourcestocks),biodiversitythroughadditionalinformationonmarinespeciesandhabitats.
Byaggregatingbothspaceandin-situdatabasedonobservationswithglobalreachoverlandandseas,theCopernicusSecurityServices(CSS)canmakeanimportantcontributiontoserveEUsecurityneeds.
ThishasbeendemonstratedthroughaseriesofEUandnationalR&Dprojects,inparticularinthedomainsofborderandmaritimesurveillance,humanitarian112OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion,L122,24.
04.
2014,p.
44113http://www.
jecam.
org/114http://dopa.
jrc.
ec.
europa.
eu/48aidmissions,conflictearlywarningandprevention,andothers.
ApplicationsupporttotheEUExternalActionsarepresentlybeendeveloped.
Inthisfield,thereisalsopotentialforadditionalcooperationonagloballevelincludingthroughGEO.
WithCopernicusanditsSpace,In-SituandServiceComponents,Europeiscurrentlyputtinginplaceanunprecedentedworld-classEarthobservationinfrastructure.
TheEuropeanEOserviceindustryshouldbeabletobenefitfromthesystemthroughwideropportunitiestocreatenewdownstreamservicesfocussingonEurope.
ThroughaninvolvementinGEOSS,theserviceindustrywouldbeenabledtoputtheirservicesonaglobalstagebyadaptingthemtootherregionalneedsandbyenhancingtheseservicesthroughwidercombinationwithadditionaldatastreams.
ThisdevelopmentwillbefacilitatedbytheobjectivesstatedintheCopernicusRegulation.
49ANNEXEV–ExamplesofEuropeanresearchinfrastructuresrelatedtothemonitoringoftheenvironmentExamplesofEuropeanresearchinfrastructuresrelatedtothemonitoringoftheenvironmentEISCAT_3D115willbeathree-dimensionalimagingradarforatmosphericandgeo-spaceresearch,whichconstitutesanupgradetoEISCAT,anexistinginternationalinfrastructurebasedinEuropeanddevotedtothestudyoftheupperatmosphere,ionosphereandgeospace.
Thisnewlarge-scaleEuropeanResearchInfrastructurewillhaveapplicationsinawiderangeofEuropeanresearchareasincludingEarthenvironmentmonitoringandtechnologysolutionssupportingsustainabledevelopment,wellbeyondatmosphericandspacesciences.
EISCAT_3DwillcontributetoEnvironmentalsciencesthroughstudiesofspaceweatherandglobalchange,aswellasaddressingatmosphericscienceandplasmaphysics.
EMSO116istheEuropeanMultidisciplinarySeafloorObservatory,aresearchinfrastructureforlongtermpermanentmonitoringoftheoceanmarginenvironmentaroundEurope.
ItisconsideredcriticalbytheEuropeanScienceFoundationmarineboard.
EMSOisanessentialtoolfordeepsearesearchincludinggeosciencesandgeo-hazards,physicaloceanography,biologyandnon-livingresources.
Cabledsea-floorobservatoriesareneededtocollectsimultaneouslylongtimeseriesofdataidentifyingtemporalevolutions,cyclicchangesandcapturingepisodiceventsrelatedtooceaniccirculation,deep-seaprocessesandecosystemsevolution.
Inaddition,long-termmonitoringwillallowthecaptureofepisodiceventssuchasearthquakes,submarineslides,tsunamis,benthicstorms,bio-diversitychanges,pollutionandothereventsthatcannotbedetectedandmonitoredbyconventionaloceanographicsea-goingcampaigns.
Euro-Argo117isaEuropeanresearchinfrastructurecontributingtotheArgointernationalprogrammethroughtheprocurement,deployment,monitoringofawidenumberofprofilingfloatsandthroughthedeliveryofprocesseddatabothinreal-timeanddelayed-modetomonitorthetemperature,salinity,andvelocityoftheupperocean.
Euro-Argoplanstodeployabout250floatsperyearnecessarytomaintainanarrayofabout800floatsinoperationatanygiventime(onequarteroftheARGOglobalarray).
ArgoisendorsedbyseveralGEOParticipatingOrganisationsandprogrammesuchastheClimateResearchProgrammeoftheWorldMeteorologicalOrganisation(WMO),theGlobalOceanObservingSystem(GOOS),andtheIntergovernmentalOceanographicCommission(IOC).
Euro-ArgoisanessentialinsitucomponentusedtodayfortheCopernicusMarineCoreService.
IAGOS118aimsnotablytooperateafleetoflongrangein-serviceaircraftofinternationallyoperatingairlinesequippedwithfullyautomaticinstrumentsforthecontinuousmonitoringoftheimportantreactivegasesandgreenhousegaseslikeozone,carbonmonoxide,nitrogenoxide,togetherwithdust(aerosol)andcloudparticles.
Thisinfrastructureinthemakingcancontributetoaglobalobservationalnetworkforlongtermobservationsofatmosphericcomposition,aerosolandcloudparticlesonaglobalscale.
Inthefuture,IAGOScouldpotentiallyprovidenearrealtimedatatothe"AtmosphericMonitoringService"oftheEuropeanCopernicusprogrammeandtoGEOSS.
ICOS119aimsattrackingcarbonfluxesinEuropeandadjacentregionsbymonitoringtheecosystems,theatmosphereandtheoceansthroughanetworkofinsitustations.
With95stationsexpectedin2014,ICOSisexpectedtobecomefullyoperationalin2015.
Thenetworkincludes(i)atmosphericstationsmeasuringcontinuouslythegreenhousegas(CO2,CH4,N2O)115https://www.
eiscat.
se/116http://www.
emso-eu.
org/117http://www.
euro-argo.
eu/118http://www.
iagos.
org/119http://www.
icos-infrastructure.
eu/50concentrationvariability,(ii)ecosystemstationsmonitoringthefunctioningoflandecosystemsandtheexchangeofenergyandgreenhousegasesbetweentheecosystemsandtheatmosphere,and(ii)anetworkofshipsandfixedstationstomonitorcarbonexchangebetweenthesurfaceoceanandtheatmosphere,acidificationofoceans,surfacetemperature,salinityandothervariables.
Resultingmeasurementsshouldallowdailydeterminationofsourcesandsinksatscalesdowntoabout100km2.
EPOS120istheEuropeanPlateObservingSystem(EPOS)whichcoordinates,collectsandarchiveshigh-qualitydatafromarangeofSolidEarthsciencedisciplinesacrossEuropeincludingfromseismologicalandgeodeticnetworks,localgeomagneticandvolcanoobservatories,experimentallaboratoriesinEuropeandotherintegratedsatellitedataandgeologicalinformation.
ThisEuropeanResearchinfrastructureismakingrapidprogresstoenterintooperationsfrom2015.
120http://www.
epos-eu.
org/51ANNEXEVI-AssessmentofGEOachievementsbyexternalexpertsTheCommissionconvenedagroupof5externalEuropeanexpertsinthesecondsemester2013toassessandreportontheachievementsandbenefitsthathaveaccruedtoEuropeandtheEUfromtheCommissioninvolvementinGEOsince2005.
Theexecutivesummaryofthisreportispresentedbelow.
TheassessmentrestatestheuniqueGEOconfigurationontheglobalscenetofacilitatefullandopenaccesstoimportantEOdatasetsthataddressglobalsocietalchallenges.
Italsoprovides11recommendationstotheCommission.
ExecutivesummaryofthereportThereportpresentedherewascommissionedbytheEuropeanCommission(EC)toassesstheachievementsandbenefitsthathaveaccruedtotheEuropeanUnion(EU),andmorewidelytoEurope,fromtheCommission'sinvestmentin,andworkwith,theGrouponEarthObservations(GEO)121,since2005.
ThereportisstructuredtoidentifyexistinggapsandincludesrecommendationsonopportunitiesforimprovementwithregardtoanyfutureengagementoftheEuropeanCommissionintheGEO-Post2015frameworkofactivities.
Forthepurposesofthisreporttheterm"Earthobservations"referstodata,informationandproductsderivedfromspace-basedandin-situairborne,terrestrial,freshwaterandocean-basedplatforms,forcivilpurposes.
ThisreviewofGEO-relatedachievements,outputsandimpactsofrelevancetotheEUisbasedoninformationavailablefromsourcesincludingGEOitself,theEC,pan-EuropeanorganisationssuchasESA,GEOmembercountriesinEurope,andexistingliterature.
TheassessmentpresentedheredemonstratestherangeandextentofbenefitsderivedfromGEOwhichareofrelevancetotheEU,andresultantfromtheEuropeanCommission'sparticipationinGEO.
Suchbenefitsinclude:theopeningupofaccesstoessentialglobal,regionalandnationaldatasetsandtheassociatedadoptionofcompatibledatapoliciesinEUMemberStatesandpan-Europeanorganisations(supportedbyGEO'sDataSharingPrinciples);thedirectandindirectcontributionofGEOtotheEurope2020Strategyandrelatedpoliciesincludingcapacitybuildingindevelopingcountriesandmobilisationoftheresearchcommunity.
AsfarasEurope2020isconcernedthereleaseofGEOrichdatasource,alongwiththeincreasingamountofdatasetsfromthepublicsector,demonstratedtheGEOpotentialtofosterandstimulategrowthandinnovationforindustry,aswellasprovidingnewopportunitiesforSMEs,inparticularthroughEUefforts(withinternationalcooperation)onglobalchallengessuchasclimatechange,energyandfoodsecurity,andhealth.
GEO'sDataSharingPrincipleshaveresultedparticularlyinpositiveimpactsfortheEU;examplesincludetheirinfluenceonESA'sdatapolicy(ERS,ENVISATandEarthExplorer)andESA'sSentineldatapolicyprinciples,whichinturnledtotherecentlyadoptedDelegatedActbytheEuropeanParliamentconfirmingtheprincipleofafree,fullandopenCopernicusdataandinformationpolicy.
AsevidencedbythesteadyincreaseinthenumberofexploitationprojectsusingEarthobservationsdatathatareopenlyandfreelyavailable(e.
g.
Landsat,ENVISAT,EarthExplorermissions),anopendatapolicyisnecessarytoincreasethepotentialforthedevelopmentofnewproductsandadded-valueservices,whichinturnstimulateresearchandinnovationandcontributetojobcreationthroughouttheEU.
QuantificationstudiesonthebenefitsofusingGEO-enableddataestimatethereturntobe,onaverage,fourtimesthatoftheinitialinvestment.
TheoutcomesofinvestmentalsoincludereductioninuncertaintyinenvironmentalassessmentsatbothEUandnationallevels;thesecanalsobequantifiedthroughtoolsforbenefitassessment,someofwhichhavebeendevelopedwithinthecontextofGEO.
DatasourcedfromdiverseanddenseEarthobservationsnetworksareessentialtoenabletheEUtoaddressthoseglobalchallengesthatEUpoliciesidentifyasapriority.
Fromtheassessmentpresentedhere,itisevidentthat,withoutGEO,theabilitytofacilitateaccesstoimportantdatasetsthataddressglobalchallengesincludingclimatechange,energysecurity,urbanization,pollution,biodiversityandoceanacidification,whileprogressingtowardsachievingtheUnitedNationsMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,wouldnototherwisebeachievedasefficientlyoreffectivelyastheyarewithinthecontextof121"GEO:TheintergovernmentalGrouponEarthObservations,establishedbytheResolutionoftheThirdEarthObservationSummitinFebruaryof2005,consistingofaPlenary,anExecutiveCommittee,aSecretariat,andImplementationBoardsandWorkingGroupsasappropriate"52GEO.
ThereareseveralactivitiesintheEUthatareofdirectimportancetoGEO,mostnotablytheEuropeanCommission'sCopernicus(formerlyGMES)Programme,andtheSeventhFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandTechnologicalDevelopment2007-2013(EUFP7).
TheEUFP7providesamajorcontribution(withintheEnvironmentthemeoftheCooperationProgramme),intermsofR&Deffort,providingsupporttoGEObyinitiatingandfundingresearchconstituentsnecessarytodevelopGEOSS(GlobalEarthObservationSystemofSystems).
GEOSScombineslocal,national,regionalandglobalEarthobservationsdataandinfrastructurestobuildglobaldatasetsnecessarytounderstandandpredictthefunctioningoftheEarth'ssystems.
ThroughFP7,theEuropeanCommissionhasinvestedmorethan200MtodevelopresearchwithinthecontextofGEOSS.
OneoftheFP7promisinginitiativesregardingGEOisthedevelopmentofnew-in-situobservatoriesbasedoncitizens'owndevices(e.
g.
smartphones,tabletslaptopsandothersocialmedia)thathavethepotentialonthemid-termstofilloutenvironmentalobservationalgapsatrelativelylowcost.
TheEuropeanCommission'scontributionstoGEOincludeaswell,since2005,annualsubscriptiontotheGEOTrustFund122,providingessentialsupporttotheGEOSecretariatandrelatedactivities.
ThisdirectinvolvementoftheEuropeanCommissionensuresthattheEUispositionedwithaleadershiprolewithinGEO.
WithitsundisputedstrengthsandcapacitiesinEarthobservations,theEUwillbenefitfurtherfromcontinuingitsroleasaleadingpartnerinGEOandrelatedinternationalEarthobservationsprogrammes.
TheprivatesectorisalsoasourceofEarthobservationsdataandinformationwhicharederivedfromprivatelyownedandoperatedsystems,aswellasprovidingvalue-addedanddownstreamproductsandservices.
Atrustedrelationshipbetweenthepublicandprivatesectorisapre-conditiontoachievingsustainedengagementandbenefitsforallparties.
Thescopeandpotentialtodeveloppublic-private-partnershipsinthecontextofEU-basedEarthobservationsprivatesectorandtheECdeservesfurtherattention.
RecommendationsbythepanelofexpertstotheCommission:1.
TheCommissionshouldcontinuetosupporttheimplementationofGEOSSinparticularthroughHORIZON2020,anditsparticipationinthecorrespondingGEObodies,inparticularasCo-ChairoftheExecutiveCommittee/Plenary,theDataSharingWorkingGroup,andtheworkinggroupthatwilldraftthenext10-yearGEOimplementationplan;2.
TheCommissionshouldintensifythecollaborationbetweenGEOandCopernicus,includingenhancingsynergyandcomplementaritywithrelevantESAprogrammeswithinthisdomain;3.
TheCommissionshouldincreasefurtherinter-DGcoordinationregardingtheGEOfileforthebenefitoftherelevantpoliciesoftheEU;4.
TheCommissionshouldexplorewaysandmeanswiththeEuropeanMembersofGEOtoevolvetheorganisationoftheEuropeanGEOCaucus(GEOHigh-LevelWorkingGroup),sothatthecurrentEuropeanparticipationinGEObecomesaformalEUparticipation.
5.
TheCommissionshould,togetherwiththeHLWG,provideinputforthedevelopmentofaGEO-governancebeyond2015includingthenecessaryarrangementfortheroleoftheGEOsecretariat.
6.
Theinterests,needsandcontributionsoftheprivatesectorshouldbereflectedwithinGEO;theCommissionshouldpromotefurthertheparticipationoftheprivatesectorwithinGEO.
TheCommissionshouldfosterandsupportprivateandpublic-privatepartnershipinitiativeswithinGEO.
7.
TheCommissionshouldcontinueworkingwiththeEuropeanGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisationstomakedataandservicesfreelyavailablethroughGEOSS.
8.
Thesuccessoftheinvolvementoftheusers'perspectiveinGEOrequiresregularevaluationbyindependentbodiesinordertomonitorprogress.
TheCommissionshouldsupportthedevelopmentofkeyperformanceindicators,definedinadvance,forthecontinuousmonitoringofGEO'sprogress.
9.
TheCommissionandtheEUGEOMembersshoulddevelopfurthercapacitybuildinginitiativestowardsGEOSS.
Particulareffortshouldbemadetocooperationandcapacitybuildingtothe122"GEOTrustFund:thebudgetarystructureagreedbytheGEOmemberstofundtheGEOsecretariat"53developingworld,withacontinuedfocusonAfricaandtheMediterraneanregions.
10.
EuropeancontributiontoGEOSSresearchactivitiesarelargelydependentontheEUresearchfundingFrameworkProgrammes,whichareoffixedduration.
ItwillbenecessarytoembedresponsibilitiestodevelopGEOSS-relatedresearchwithinnationalagenciesandprogrammes,toensurelong-termsustainabilityofrelevantResearchandInnovationprogrammes:Horizon2020instrumentssuchasERA-NETand/orJointProgrammingInitiativeshouldbeusedtoachievethisgoal.
11.
TheCommissionshouldpursueitsdisseminationeffortregardingGEOinordertocomprehensivelyinformthepublic,theEOcommunityandtheprivatesectoraboutGEOactivitiesofrelevancetoEU.
54ANNEXEVII–ConsultationofEuropeanGEOMembercountriesandParticipatingOrganisationsAspartoftheCommissionapproachtoinvestigatethefutureofGEOandGEOSS,aconsultationoftheEuropeanGEOmembercountriesandParticipatingOrganisationshasbeenconductedviaaquestionnaireintheperiodMaytoSeptember2013.
ResponsestothissurveyconfirmthatGEOhasenabledEuropeancountriestobecomeawareofthevastamountofinformationavailableontheglobalscene,ofthebenefitsofaccessingandexchanginginformation,andalsooftheadvantagesintacklingcommonproblemsonawiderscale.
AstrongmotivationforbeingaGEOMemberistheopportunitytoreinforcenationalEarthobservationcooperationstrategyandtofocusoncommontargets.
GEOisperceivedastheuniqueforumwhereEarthobservationinitiativesofglobal,continental,regionalandnationalnatureshouldinterfaceandcollaborate.
Ontheotherhand,thereisaconcernthatGEOhasnotbeenaseffectiveasitcouldhavebeen,withsometimesarelativelackofeffectivecommitment,resourcesandmanagementonthepartofsomeGEOmembercountries.
SomeworrieswerealsoexpressedconcerningthefuturecoordinationbetweenCopernicusandGEOactivities.
CopernicushavingbeenacknowledgedasamainEuropeancontributiontoGEOSS,moreclarificationisrequiredabouthowthisisgoingtohappen,especiallynowthatCopernicusisenteringitsoperationalphase.
AclearsupportwasexpressedtowardsthecontinuationoftheCommissioncommitmenttoGEObeyond2015.
TheprominentroleoftheFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandInnovationwasadvocatedwiththewishtoseecontinuedsupportintheHorizon2020FrameworkProgramme.
TheideawassuggestedtofurtherexplorecommonstrategiesandenhancedcoordinationamongrelevantnationallyfundedEarthobservationactivitiesandprogrammes,forinstancethroughanERA-NETtypeofactivity.
TheroleoftheGEOHighLevelWorkingGroupwaspraised.
ThisgroupisconsideredashavingbeeninstrumentalinpromotingtheEuropeanroleandinfluenceinGEO.
IthasfunctionedasaforumforexchangeofinformationandhasallowedtheEuropeanGEOMemberstohaveasayinGEOdiscussions,especiallythoseheldattheGEOExecutiveCommittee.
Ingeneral,therespondentstothequestionnairerecommendthattheGEOHighLevelWorkingGroupshouldbestrengthenedorformalised,afterhavingfurtheraddressedtherelativelackofengagementbysomeofitsMembers.
WithregardtotherenewedGEO,someEuropeancountriesoftheHighLevelWorkingGroupwouldhavepreferredmoreinnovativeandambitiousproposalsthanwhathadbeenrecommendedbytheGEOPost-2015workingGroupinitsGEOVision2025document.
ThisobservationparticularlyconcernsthefuturegovernanceandresourcingoftheGEO.
Thefollowingaspectsofstrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsofGEOandGEOSSaretakenfromacompilationoftheresultsofthisconsultationoftheEuropeanGEOmembercountriesandParticipatingOrganisationsandthoseprovidedbytheEuropeanexpertsmandatedbytheCommissiontoassessGEOchallengesandbenefits(annexeVI).
StrengthsTheGEOrepresentsawidemultilateraleffortforEOcoordination.
Theinter-governmentalnatureoftheGEOalsoinvolvingParticipatingOrganisationsallowslinkingofscientificandtechnicallevels,aswellassomeusers,directlytothepoliticallevel.
Assuch,theGEOisuniqueontheinternationalscenetospeakaboutEarthobservationonaglobalscale.
55TheGEOreinforcesthisuniquenessbyhavingoptedforavoluntaryapproach(not-legallybindingandconductedonabesteffortbasis)toimplementtheGEOSS.
Thisbringsflexibility,adaptabilityandreactivitycomparedtoothermoreformalinternationalcoordinationmechanisms.
TheGEOvisionislong-termandmulti-disciplinary.
ItisfederatingEOcommunitiesandEOactivitiesfromallovertheworld.
Ithelpsre-thinkingEOwiththeviewofbringingrealsocietalbenefits.
GEOhasdemonstratedthecapabilitytostimulatenetworkingandfosternewinitiatives,projectsandcollaborations(e.
g.
withnationalagencies,academia,privatesector,NGOs,etc.
)withinandacrosstheGEOsocietalchallenges.
TheGEOhasgainedpoliticalmomentumduringitsfirstnineyearsofimplementation.
Ithasenabledmanycountries,includinginEurope,totakeconscienceofthevastamountofEOdatasetsavailableontheglobalscene,ofthebenefitsofsharingdataandoftacklingcommonsocietalproblemsonawiderscale.
SomenationalagencieshavecraftedtheirdatapoliciestakingtheGEOSSdatasharingprinciplesasguidingprinciples.
TheGEOisinclusiveinthesensethatitprovidestheonlydiscussionforumforthewholeenvironmentalobservationscommunity.
Itisadriverfornewresearchandinnovation.
TheEUframeworkprogrammesforResearchandInnovationisrecurrentlypresentedasabestpracticeexampletootherfundingpartiesintheGEO.
GEOprovidesastrongplatformtopromoteEObestpractices(e.
g.
commonprotocols,interoperabilityarrangements,referencedatasetsofglobalinterest)andGEOSSprinciples(e.
g.
inrelationtofullandopendatasharingortodatamanagement)attheglobalscale.
ThecurrentversionoftheGCIalreadyconnectsexpertuserstomajorEOsystemsdistributedgloballywhilerespectingtheirrespectivemandateandleavingthemautonomous.
WhileincreasingnumbersofEOportalsarebeingdeveloped,nonesofarareattempting,liketheGEOSS,toprovidecomprehensiveaccesstoEOdata.
TheGEOprovidesinternationalvisibilityandaleverageeffectforexistinginfrastructuresandotherresourcesinvestedatlocal,nationalandregionalscalestoincreasetheknowledgebasewithinandacrossthevariousGEOsocietalchallenges.
Forinstance,someGEOinternationalinitiativeshaveamplifiedtheexploitationofESAmissions,henceenhancingtheinternationalimpactofESAprogrammes.
ThedeploymentoftheGEONetCastinfrastructurehasleveragedtheEUMETCastsystem123,enhancedEUMETSATcollaborationwithinternationalpartnersandacceleratedEOcapacitybuildingactivitieswithinAfrica.
TheGEOinitiativehasraisedthevisibilityoftheEOexpertiseandcapacitiesoftheEUontheinternationalscene.
IthasinitiatedaprocesstowardsstrongercoordinationbetweennationalandEuropeanEOprogrammesandactivities.
TheactivecoordinationoftheEuropeancaucusbytheCommissionthroughtheHLWGisacknowledgedasadeterminantfortheinfluentialroleplayedbyEuropeinGEOPlenaryandEXCOMmeetings.
WeaknessesThevoluntaryapproachofGEOisalsosometimesseenasaweaknessinthesensethatitbringstheriskofsoftenedlevelsofresourcecommitmentandinvolvementbysomeGEOMembersorParticipatingOrganisations.
LackoffunctionalcommitmentbyseveralGEOMembercountriesorParticipatingOrganisationstowardscarryingouttheGEOWorkPlanhassometimesjeopardisedthetimelyorfulldeliveryofintendedGEOoutcomes.
123http://www.
eumetsat.
int/website/home/Data/DataDelivery/EUMETCast/index.
html56QuantifyingtheimpacttheGEOisnotyetstraightforward.
ThisispartlyduetothefactthattheGEOtooksometimetoarticulateitsaddedvalue,butalsopartlybecausetheGEO,whichhasanupstreampositioninginthevaluechain,hasonlyrecentlystartedtodeliverdemonstrableoutcomestoendusers.
GEOhashadastrongfocusondatasupply,discoveryandaccessmainlyforexpertusers.
Whilegoodachievementscanbereportedinthisdomain,theaddedvalueintermsofusingthedatafordecision-making,innovationandgrowthandfordevelopingtrans-disciplinaryproductsbasedonEOdatasetshasnotyetbeensufficientlydemonstrated.
Whileaccesstospace-bornedatasetshasbeenratherwelladdressed,theofferintermsofin-situdata,real-timedataandmodelsistoolimitedtodate.
Moreover,theexistenceandvalueofapooloffullandopenaccessdataresources(theGEOSSDataCORE)hasnotbeensufficientlypromoted.
GEOdoesnotowntheinformationsystemsharvestedbytheGCI.
Itisnotdirectlymanagingthedatatowhichitisprovidingaccess.
ItsimpactwithrespecttoEOdatasharingandmanagementissubjecttothedataproviders'willingnesstoadoptandimplementthecommonprinciples,guidanceandbestpracticesprovidedbytheGEO.
ThecommunicationontheaddedvalueoftheGEOandtheGEOSShasbeensub-optimal.
GEOisstillsometimesperceivedasco-optingpre-existingEO-relatedinitiativesatlocal,national,regionallevelsoractivitiesconductedbypre-existingcommunities.
Inthosecases,GEOissometimesperceivedasacompetitorforresources.
Therecouldbescope(beyondtheEUFP7R&Dprogramme)foralternativefundingschemesandincashcontributioninordertosustaintheGEOSSimplementation.
Theconsultationoftheprivatesectorhasbeentoolimited;progressfordevelopinganoverallframeworkstimulatingprivatesectorengagementhasbeentooslow.
Todate,theprivatesectorhasbenefittedverylittlefromtheactionsoftheGEO.
SynergieswithUNprogrammesandagencieshavenotyetbeensufficientlydeveloped.
ThelevelofengagementbytheEuropeanmembersoftheHLWGcanvarysignificantly.
Whileseveraldelegationsareverycollaborativeandproactive,othersshowlessinvolvementintheEuropeancaucuscoordinationprocess.
OpportunitiesTherenewedGEOmandatefortheperiod2016-2025isapositivepoliticalsignal.
Adaptationpossibilitiesexistforthenext10-yearImplementationPlaninordertobetteraddressthepolitical,institutional,scientific,andtechnicalchallengesthatGEOwillbefacinginthecomingyears.
TheGEOprovidesopportunitiestofurtherinfluenceEOglobalagendasinthefuture.
ThedesignandexecutionofthenextGEOWorkPlansthrough2025constituteopportunitiesinthisrespect.
ThedigitalrevolutionofoursocietyandtheoutcomeoftheInternetofThingsbringpotentialforinnovativeusesofEOdataandproducts,includingfor/bythecitizens.
ThecontinuedefforttowardspromotingopenandfreedatapoliciesamongsttheGEOcommunityisnotonlyinstrumentalfortacklingglobalproblemsbutalsoforstimulatingaglobalEOmarketplaceandcontributingtothedigitaleconomyoftomorrow.
Thiscouldbringopportunitiesforinnovationandgrowth,includingforEuropeanSMEs.
TheGEOSSpotentialtopromotetheuseofEO,enlargetheuserbase,consolidateuserrequirementsattheglobalscale,benchmarkreferencedatasetsofglobalinterest,andstimulatetheglobalmarketforgeo-servicesissubstantial.
57ThestrongEUcontributionrepresentedbyCopernicusprovidesakeyopportunityforEuropetopositionitsEOservicesindustryontheglobalstage.
TheGEOprovidesaninternationalco-ordinatingplatformthroughwhichtheEUcontributioncanbeleveraged.
WithitsSMEinstrumentandtherenewedfocusgiveninnovationactivities(closertothemarket),theHorizon2020FrameworkProgrammeprovidesnewopportunitiesforSMEstostimulateinnovationandgrowth.
ThreatsItisquestionablewhetherthesolevoluntaryapproachwouldbefullysuitedtoprovidingthestabilityandlong-termcommitmentsrequiredforthecorefunctionalitiesoftheGEOSS,aswellasforattractingtheindustry.
PressureonpublicbudgetsworldwidemightimpactthelevelofresourcecommitmentbytheGEOMembersandParticipatingOrganisationsfortheGEOSSimplementation.
Inrelationtoresourcecommitment,GEOhasnotprovenyetitscapacitytosustainovertimetheglobalinitiativeswhichhavebeenlaunchedintherecentyears.
Ingeneral,makingthetransitionfromanadhocprototypetoareliableoperationalsystemorexploitableproductisknowntobedifficult.
ThisalsoappliestotheGEOSSoperations.
TheratherlooseorganisationofthemanagementoftheWorkPlantaskshastobeaddressedinordertoachievenew,realisticandmeasurabletargetsfortheprogressiveimplementationoftheGEOSS.
Differentviews(moreconservativeversusmoreinnovative)willhavetobereconciledwhendraftingthenewGEOSS10-YearImplementationPlan.
ConsensusbuildingamongstGEOMemberswillbecrucial.
TheinternationallandscapeforinitiativesrelatedtoEO,environmentaldataande-Infrastructuresisincreasinglycomplex.
58ANNEXEVIII–TheEarthobservationserviceindustryandrelatedmarketsTheEarthobservationsectoristraditionallycomposedofupstreamanddownstreaminfrastructureandservicecomponents.
ItmayhappenthatforsomeEOdatastreams(e.
g.
meteorologicaldataandinformation),thesecomponentsareverticallyintegratedverticallytosomeextent;however,formostotherEOmarketniches,theyareseparated.
Theycanbeprivatelyorpubliclyowned,oroperatedunderjointpublicprivateagreements.
Inallcase,thesectorasawholeisoftenexposedtothelevelofinteractionsexistingbetweenthepublicandtheprivatesectors.
Thedefinitionofclearrolesandboundariesisknowntohaveastronginfluenceininvestmentsdecisions.
Thepublicsectorplaysanimportantrolenotonlythroughinfluencingtheregulatoryframeworkofthesector,butalsoaffectingthemarketdemandforEarthobservationservices.
-TheupstreamEarthobservationsectorWhiletheupstreamspacesectorisrathercapital-intensiveandthereforeoftenconcentratedwithinasmallnumberofmainlyindustrialprovidersspecialisedinsatellitemanufacturing,launchersandgroundsegmentoperations,theupstreaminsituinfrastructureisveryheterogeneousandprimarilyownedbytheMemberStateswhooperateandmaintainavarietyofEOsystemsdeployedatvariousscales.
-ThedownstreamEarthobservationsectorThedownstreamindustryiscomposedofEarthobservationvalue-addingcompanieswhichturnEarthobservationdataintoinformationandinsightsforcommercialandgovernmentalorganisations.
Theyprovideproductsandservicescustomisationaccordingtospecificuserneeds.
Processautomationremainsoftenlimited;manualprocessingbyskilledGeo-expertsallowsaddressingspecificmarketniches.
-CategorizationofEarthobservationprovidersThePrivateSectorisallbutmonolithicandincludesatleastthefollowingbroadcategories:Providersofdata:privateoperatorsgivingaccesstocomplementaryobservingcapacitiessuchassatellitemanufacturersandoperatorsorcompaniesdevelopinginsitusensorsandsystems,orhostinginstrumentsonboardtheplatformtheyoperatesuchastrucks,shipsofopportunity,airplanesonunmanneddronevehicles,etc.
);Providersofinfrastructureanddata:thisrangesfromcompaniesinvolvedinstandardisationandinteroperabilityandprovidingsolutionsforuniversalaccesstodistributedinformationsystems,tocompaniessupplyingtoolsandprocessingcapabilitiesforthetransformationofEarthobservationdata,Providersofend-to-endservices:companiesexploitingGEOSSdata,especiallythefullandopenGEOSSData-CORE,todeveloptoolsfordecisionsupportandotheradded-valueservices;PrivatesectorcustomersofEarthobservationinthenineGEOSocietalBenefitAreas:agriculture(e.
g.
commoditiestraders,processed-foodscompanies),biodiversity(e.
g.
pharmaceuticalcompanies),weatherandclimate(e.
g.
constructioncompanies,energycompanies,insurancecompanies).
59-FactsandfiguresconcerningtheEuropeanEarthobservationserviceindustryArecentstudybytheEuropeanAssociationofRemoteSensingCompanies(EARSC)124estimatesthattheEuropeanEarthobservationserviceindustryiscomposedofabout300companiesemployingmorethan5000employeesofveryhighlevelofqualification.
About90%ofthework-forceiscomposedofuniversitygraduatesorpeopleholdingahigherdegree.
Thetotalsectorrevenuesareestimatedat757Mioin2012ofwhich79%oftherevenuescomefromthelargetomediumcompanies.
Theinformationsegmentrepresent43%ofthemarketbyvalue,whiledatasellingactivitiesandsoftwaresellingactivitiesrepresentrespectively40%and17%ofthemarket.
Withmorethan50%ofthetotalshareofrevenues,thepublicmarket(whichincludesR&Dgrants)slightlyovertakestheprivatemarketestimatedat43%.
Lookingatrevenuesfromsalesofdataandinformation,thefirstthreerankedmarketsectorsaresecurityanddefence,followedbylocalandregionalplannersandthentheoilandgascommercialmarket.
"Securityproductsrepresentthelargestthematicareaofinterest,butlandproducts(e.
g.
landuse/landcoverchange,forestandagriculture)ingeneralareofinterestformostcompanies.
LandproductsareoftendrivenbyEUpolicyandareoftenassociatedwithlocalneeds".
TheR&Dintensity,estimatedat7%,ishigherthantheaverageintheaerospaceorautomobilesindustries,butlowerthanthesoftwareandcomputerindustryorthepharmaceuticalsandbiologyindustry.
Thecomparisonofthesefigureswiththosecollectedinearlierstudies125,126allowsextractingthefollowingmajortrendsfortheEarthobservationserviceindustryovertheperiod2006-2012:Althoughstillintheearlystagesofdevelopment,theEuropeanEarthobservationserviceindustryisprogressivelymovingfromanactivityessentiallydrivenbyR&Dgrants,toonethatisbecomingmoreoperational.
Theshareofcommercialorprivatesectorsaleshasgrownsignificantly(almost4foldincreaseinabsoluteterms)andfurthergrowthincommercialmarketsisexpected.
Therehasbeenasteadyincrease(8%p.
a.
)inthenumberofcompaniesofferingEarthobservationservices.
Thisgrowthinsmallandespeciallymicroenterprises(lessthan10employees)confirmsthedynamicnatureofthesector.
Employmenthasgrownatanannualrateof10%.
Revenuesforthesectorhavegrownatanannualrateof10.
7%.
Thisgrowthismainlyattributedtocompanieswhichwerecreatedinthelast6yearswithnewbusinessmodels.
"Forcompaniesthatexistedin2006,thegrowthinrevenuesfalteredwiththeeconomiccrisis".
Therehasbeenasmallincreaseintheshareofsalestopublicoperationalcustomers,whilethesharesofsalestoNGO'sandacademiahavefallensignificantly,probablyduetothetrendtowardsfreedataaccesstopublicdata(seenextsection).
Thevalueaddingindustrydoesnotcontributealottodatasalesrevenues;smallandmicroenterprisesinparticularseemtoincreasinglybasetheirbusinessonfreedata.
Theannouncedgrowth(doubling)inthenumberofcivilandcommercialEOsatellitesgloballyforecastedfortheperiod2010-2019127isprogressivelyhappening.
Thedatatrendistowardsamixofopticalsensorsandradars.
Opticalimagerymakesupabout80%ofthedatasales(comparedtoradardatasalesreaching20%),withVeryHighResolution(comethemostimportantpart.
124EOServicesindustry,EARSCsurveyunderassignmentbyESA,September2013,http://earsc.
org/news/a-survey-into-the-state-and-health-of-the-european-services-industry125ECORYSstudyfortheCommissiononthe"CompetitivenessoftheGMESDownstreamSector",2008126Booz&CompanystudyfortheCommissiononthe"Cost-BenefitAnalysisforGMES",2011127Euroconsultstudy"Satellite-basedEarthObservation,MarketProspectsto2019",201060Withonly14%ofrevenuescomingfrommarketsoutsideEuropeandNorthAmerica,thereisapotentialforgrowthinexport.
Lookingatthefuture,theindustryremainscautiousbutoptimist.
-Globalmarketsforremotesensingandgeo-servicesBasedondataacquiredin2012,theglobalmarketforremotesensingproductshasbeenestimatedtogrowfrom$8,1billionin2014(morethanEUR5,5billion)to$12,1billionin2019(aboutEUR8,9billion),withanannualgrowthrateof8,2%overthefiveyearperiodfrom2014to2019128.
Thesefiguresrelatestoremotesensinginawidesense,thusincludingproductsacquiredfromsensorson-boardsatellitesbutalsoairbornesensorsincludingfrompilotless"drone"aircraft.
Thegeo-servicessectorisestimatedtogenerate$150-$270billion(approximately110-200billion)ofrevenuegloballyandtoexpandatanannualrateof30%129.
Althoughdifficulttoquantify,theEarthobservation-basedservicesdeliverefficiencygainsintheeconomythatcanbemanytimesthesizeofthesectoritself.
Forinstance,astudybyBCGin2012hasestimatedanimpactofgeospatialservicesontheUSeconomytobe15to20timesthesizeofthegeospatialindustry130.
-ComparisonwiththeUSEarthobservationserviceindustryComparedtotheUSsituation,theEuropeanEarthobservationdownstreamsectorisalsoaffectedbythebudgetausteritycharacterisingthepublicsectoringeneral.
Still,UScompaniescantakeadvantageofalargerdomesticdefenceandsecuritymarketaccessible.
Moreover,attentionispaidintheUSonpreservingdownstreamopportunitiesfortheprivatesector.
128BCCResearchreporton"RemoteSensingTechnologiesandGlobalMarkets",2013129OxeraConsultingLtdstudypreparedforGoogleon"WhatistheeconomicimpactofGeoservices",2013130BCGstudycommissionedbyGoogleonPuttingtheU.
S.
GeospatialServicesIndustryontheMap",2012