1. 27 September, 2004 GEO Special Session on Governance Analysis of Comments on Governance of GEOSS International Cooperation Subgroup Co-Chairs Patricio Bernal (IOC of UNESCO) Harlan Watson (USA) John Zillman (Australia) GEO Special Session on Governance 27 September 2004, Brussels, Belgium

2. 27 September, 2004GEO Special Session on Governance Submission of comments 17 GEO Members answered Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Iran, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and United States. 8 Participating Organizations and GEO IPTT Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), International Council for Science (ICSU) Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership (IGOS-P) International Association of Geodesy International Steering Committee for Global Mapping United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

3. 27 September, 2004GEO Special Session on Governance Outline of the Analysis Points of Consensus Points of Divergence Key Considerations and Strategy (8 points) By each point Overarching Function of a Successor Mechanism to GEO …

4. 27 September, 2004GEO Special Session on Governance Analysis of Comments: Key Considerations and Strategy Almost complete support for the eight key points from GEO-4 comments were mostly elaborations or interpretations of the wording of the 8 points A few reservations with respect to balance, emphasis or concern about possible misinterpretations of GEO-4 text Suggestions for further development and elaboration of the proposed governance structure within the overall framework set by the eight key points

5. 27 September, 2004GEO Special Session on Governance Analysis of Comments: Key Considerations and Strategy A few issues with strongly differing views / no immediate consensus, such as: role and status of the participating international organisations relationship between the overall governance structure for GEOSS and UN system legal status of any agreement establishing the GEO successor mechanism Modalities for involvement of the scientific community

6. 27 September, 2004GEO Special Session on Governance Analysis of Comments: Overarching Function Overarching Function of a Successor Mechanism to GEO (agreed and extracted from Framework Document 7.3) Coordination and planning of GEOSS implementation. Opportunities for engagement of all members and relevant international and regional organizations. Involvement of user communities. Measuring, monitoring, and facilitating openness of GEOSS to improve cross-flow of observations and products. Coordination and facilitation of the development and exchange of observations and products between members and relevant international and regional organizations.

7. 27 September, 2004GEO Special Session on Governance Analysis of Comments: Overarching Function Overarching Function of a Successor Mechanism to GEO to be discussed based on country positions Participation and Engagement of members (ownership), and Outreach Coordination of activities (national/international/pre-existing systems) Identification and Definition of GEOSS functions and components Facilitation of GEOSS implementation plan (review/annual plan/resources) Modalities for Scientific and Technical support Assessment (evolving system : assessment of needs and priorities)