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2 Logos

3 Why an International Year of Planet Earth? –To demonstrate the huge potential of the Earth sciences in the building of a safer, healthier and wealthier Society –To encourage Society to apply this potential more effectively

4 Who is behind the Year? –Initiated by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) –Co-initiated by the Earth Science Division of UNESCO –8 Founding Partners –17 Associate Partners

5 Eight Founding Partners –IUGG –IGU –IUSS –ISRIC –ILP –GeolSoc –TNO-NITG –IAEG + ISRM + ISSMGE Consortium

6 17 Associate Partners IUGS- Affiliated Organisations –IAH –IPA –SEG –SGA –IAGOD –GSAfrica –SEPM –CCOP –AGID Other Associate Partners –ICSU –IGCP –IOC –EFG –AARSE –ProGeo –SCA –UNU

7 International Year –Science Programme –Outreach Programme –UN Proclamation

8 Science Programme Essential characteristics –Soundly based in the geosciences –Global in scope –Holistic & multidisciplinary –Human impact integral –Potential for Developing Countries –Potential for effective Outreach –Essentially ‘bottom-up’ in approach

9 Science Programmes Groundwater 1.Groundwater – towards sustainable use Hazards 2. Hazards – minimising risk, maximising awareness Earth and Health 3. Earth and Health – building a safer environment Climate 4. Climate – the “stone tape” Resources 5. Resources – prosperity and sustainability Megacities 6. Megacities – going deeper, building safer Deep Earth 7. Deep Earth – from crust to core Ocean 8. Ocean – abyss of time Soils 9. Soils - the living skin of the Earth Life 10. Life – pending

10 Outreach Programme Aims: –Generate greater awareness among the public of the wide-ranging importance of the geosciences for human life and prosperity –Stimulate awareness of the societal contributions of the geosciences within national education systems –Increase understanding of the societal importance of the geosciences on the part of decision-makers

11 Outreach Programme General –Same general criteria, size and budget as the Science Programme –Build on foundation-sponsors’ funding –Responsive to project bids, and so ‘bottom-up’ in line with the Science Programme –Multilingual –Application process continuous (no ‘rounds’)

12 Outreach Programme Examples –Affiliate with the Year –Recycling and enhancing educational material –Support scientists from developing countries –Citizen science: involve public in research –Competitions –Stories (news, books) –Programme making –Art commissioning –Travelling exhibitions

13 Website

14 Brochures

15 From geoscientific towards political support in the UN In three steps: –Collect support from national geoscience communities –Secure support at political (Ministry) level –Obtain support at United Nations level by way of Ministries of Foreign Affairs

16 Political support building up... Argentina Australia Austria Brazil Cameroon Canada China Germany India Israel Italy Jordan Kazakhstan Lithuania Mauritius Mexico Mozambique Namibia Netherlands Pakistan Poland Romania Russian Federation South Africa Tanzania Zambia Steps112233

17 From Council towards UN General Assembly... Three steps: 1.Approval of Declaration by Council of IUGS/IGC (26 August 2004) 2.Adoption by UNESCO’s Executive Board (28 April 2005) 3.Proclamation by UNESCO General Conference and UN General Assembly

18 Declaration The Council of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the International Geological Congress (IGC), representing the geoscience communities in 140 countries and regions at the meeting of 7000 geoscientists gathered at the 32nd IGC in Florence, Italy, declares that: –the geosciences can contribute significantly to a safer, healthier and wealthier world. –this potential contribution is seriously under-used by society and should be substantially increased. –proclamation of an international year under the aegis of UN member states would help the Earth sciences to make their full contribution to our sustainable stewardship of the planet. Accordingly, Council invites UNESCO’s Executive Board to adopt an International Year of Planet Earth. Florence, 26 August 2004

19 From Council towards UN General Assembly... Three steps: 1.Approval of Declaration by Council of IUGS/IGC (26 August 2004) 2.Adoption by UNESCO’s Executive Board (28 April 2005) 3.Proclamation by UNESCO General Conference and UN General Assembly

20 Draft Resolution support in the Executive Board –Algeria –Brazil –Burkina Faso –Canada –China –Egypt –Germany –Ghana Italy –Jamaica –Kenya –Mauritius –Morocco –Mozambique –Namibia –Pakistan –Russian Federation –Rwanda –Senegal –Slovenia –Sri Lanka –Swaziland –Tanzania –Turkey –Ukraine Countries:

21 Global political support for Planet Earth Year

22 Progress by 20 May 2005 –Support: –Support: political support by 34 nations: 3,6 billion people –Draft Resolution adopted by UNESCO’s Executive Board –8 Founding Partners –17 Associate Partners –IUGS/IGC Council Declaration adopted by 140 nations –Science: –Science: 9 Themes identified + 10 th pending –5 science brochures printed, 7 on website –2 in design –1 in development –Outreach: –Outreach: Web site operational, brochures & flyer printed; Newsletter; Outreach brochure printed –Linked –Linked with eGY and IPY

23 Strategic Alliance eGY & International Year of Planet Earth The purpose of the Strategic Alliance between the Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY) and the International Year of Planet Earth is: to facilitate collaborative scientific research and development and other programmes of the highest international standing in the interests of both parties. Signed 20 February 2005

24 Proposed cooperation between eGY and International Year of Planet Earth –Handling of certain data in some Science Programme Themes by eGY –Involvement of eGy in the International Year’s Outreach Programme –Participation of the International Year of Planet Earth in eGy’s ‘virtual observatories’ –Draw attention to eGY’s activities through the UN system –Mutual advertising of the two programmes’ activities in all available media outlets Facilitate communication and cooperation by exchange of liaison personnel at the management level Strengthen cooperation among all I*Ys

25 Building up awareness…

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27 What next? –Table Resolution on Agenda for UN General Assembly and UNESCO’s General Conference –Further increase political support –Start fundraising by Development Committee –Develop Professional Organisation –Publish remaining Science brochures –Promote activities at national and regional levels