1. Synthesis of Strategic Issues (Climate, Disasters, Water) and a draft European strategic framework

2. Approach for a European GEO strategy framework Compatible with GEO strategic framework –GEO Strategic Targets as reference –Formulation of European Targets, derived from GEO language Starting Point: European capacities to respond to targets –Status Quo reports as technical reference (limited to SBA‘s climate, water, disasters and cross-cutting issues) –GMES as major European contribution to GEO Suitable for political level –Designed to be a contribution to the European GEO Strategy –Includes recommendations for action

3. Structure of the draft synthesis paper Vision: Where Europe wants to be in 2015 with respect to GEOSS Mission: What Europe does in its relevant programmes and how this is connected with GEO Plan of action: A European GEO plan 2012-15 –Setting targets –Recommending actions –Aspects with respect to SBA‘s Water, Disaster, Climate based on EUGENE output, but to be harmonised with other sources –Cross-cutting issues

4. Guiding principles Europe’s support to GEO is guided by Further develop its EO systems in close cooperation with GEO Taking advantage from GEOSS, especially taking account of the sustainability and interoperability of systems, promotion and implementation of the Data Sharing Principles documented data quality, and user-driven recognition of information requirements for the benefit of decision making. Consider GMES as main framework to implement this Further develop European scientific expertise and innovative abilities, offer expertise for international collaboration Enhance European EO capacities, offer cooperation to the developing world, with focus on Africa

5. Vision Globally concerted efforts for improved understanding and monitoring of the Earth System are required to allow for sound political decisions. GEO builds the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which provides decision makers and scientists worldwide with sustained, interoperable, and globally coordinated Earth Observation. Europe fulfils its commitment to GEO and uses its capabilities and investments to substantially contribute to the success of GEOSS to realise societal benefits of humankind. This also serves Europe to implement its policies in the fields of environment, energy, disaster management, development aid and climate change Major UN conventions and programmes are supported by GEOSS Europe manifests its role as a strong and capable partner in the global efforts of adapting to environmental change.

6. Mission To achieve the vision of Europe being a strong and capable partner in the framework of GEO, Europe’s mission is to define and realise the contributions to and the needs from GEOSS referring to both European operational EO programmes and European R&D activities. In general, Europe’s mission in the field of EO is outlined in various program activities such as: Modelling and forecasting the Earth System and its inter-linkages (ECMWF, national centres) Operating reliable services for decision making at European and Member State level and achieve better knowledge on the status and processes of the Earth System (GMES, EEA, European Meteorological Infrastructure) Developing scientific, technical and operational know-how (EU FP7) Exploring Planet Earth from space (ESA, national space programmes) Building capacities to empower infrastructure, people and institutions for using EO (AMESD, ”GMES and Africa”) Implementing standards for and building of accessible and interoperable data infrastructures (INSPIRE) GEOSS provides Europe with a global structure for such multidisciplinary Earth observation activities.

7. Action Plan (2012-15) Climate Disasters Water... Architecture and Data Science and Technology User Engagement Capacity Building European Coordination and Outreach

8. Climate GEO Strategic Target Before 2015, GEO aims to: Achieve effective and sustained operation of the global climate observing system and reliable delivery of climate information of a quality needed for predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate variability and change, including for better understanding of the global carbon cycle. European target Increasing and sustaining, within a stabilized and well organised structure, Europe’s already prominent scientific and operational contributions to international frameworks based on the “political will” within Europe, to address climate issues including both national and European level activities Actions (derived from climate study)

9. Disasters GEO Strategic target Before 2015, GEO aims to: Enable the global coordination of observing and information systems to support all phases of the risk management cycle associated with hazards (mitigation and preparedness, early warning, response, and recovery). European Target Europe aims to further strengthen harmonisation and collaboration of services related to disasters at the European and international level and to improve relevant global activities by contributing the European expertise and infrastructures to the success of international risk management Actions (derived from disasters study)

10. Water GEO Strategic Target Before 2015, GEO aims to: Produce comprehensive sets of data and information products to support decision- making for efficient management of the world's water resources, based on coordinated, sustained observations of the water cycle on multiple scales European Target Europe aims to improve the sustained observation of water cycle components and the coordination of hydrological activities in Europe, combined with an increased exchange of data. Europe intends to offer its expertise and work with its GEO partners to support global capacity building, with a specific focus on Africa. Actions (derived from water study)

11. Architecture and Data Management GEO Strategic Targets Before 2015, GEO aims to: Achieve sustained operation, continuity and interoperability of existing and new systems that provide essential environmental observations and information, including the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) that facilitates access to, and use of, these observations and information. Provide a shared, easily accessible, timely, sustained stream of comprehensive data of documented quality, as well as metadata and information products, for informed decision- making European Target Achieve sustained operation and continuity of GMES and other major European contributions, interoperabel with and accessible to the GEOSS Common Infrastructure, while operating one of the Core Components of the GCI, and exchange observations and products of documented quality for the mutual benefit.

12. Architecture and Data Management Actions (examples) Provide secure long-term funding for relevant European key activities, such as GMES, with to both serve European and internationally agreed requirements Implement within GMES the key framework for European GEOSS contributions as part of the international GMES cooperation strategy –Foster participation of GMES elements in relevant GEO Tasks, –Foster participation of GMES actors in GEO committees and working groups, –Register GMES resources in the GCI. Intensify involvement in GEO activities targeting for metadata standards and data quality in order to promote the European INSPIRE and other standards and maximise benefits from GEOSS to European systems and programmes Strengthen the sustained operation of in-situ networks in certain geographical regions and/or fields of earth observation, advocating free and unrestricted exchange of data Promote and implement the GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan within GMES and other relevant major European programmes

13. Science and Technology GEO Strategic Target Before 2015, GEO aims to: Ensure full interaction and engagement of relevant science and technology communities such that GEOSS advances through integration of innovations in Earth observation science and technology, enabling the research community to fully benefit from GEOSS accomplishments. European Target Ensure full interaction and engagement of relevant European S&T communities such that both GEOSS advances through increased integration of European innovations and at the same time the European S&T communities profit throuhg intensified international cooperation and access to data.

14. Science and Technology Actions Continue and further focus GEOSS relevant research –Continue with GEOSS dedicated R&D actions in FP8, –Better coordinate GEOSS dedicated FP 7/8 actions with GMES international cooperation strategy and actions as well as with other relevant initiatives, Foster an increased involvement of European research communities into GMES and GEOSS –Better link European research programmes with GEO

15. User Engagement GEO Strategic Target Before 2015, GEO aims to: Ensure critical user information needs for decision making are recognized and met through Earth observations European Target Continuously maintain and further develop the user interfaces of GMES and other major European Programmes and maximise synergies between European and international user requirements through GEO.

16. User Engagement Actions Maximise synergies between European and international user requirements through intensified participation in GEO user engagement activities and structures Still to come

17. Capacity Building GEO Strategic Target Before 2015, GEO aims to: Enhance the coordination of efforts to strengthen individual, institutional and infrastructure capacities, particularly in developing countries, to produce and use Earth observations and derived information products. European Target Focus on Africa

18. Capacity Building Actions Still to come

19. European Coordination and Outreach GEO Strategic Target --- European Target Enhance coordination structures, intensify communication activities, and leverage the political profile of GEO in Europe to strengthen political support for GEO and raise the efficiency and effectiveness of the European GEOSS contribution

20. European Coordination and Outreach Actions Take more benefit from the political profile of GEO to obtain support for addressing the issues of continuity, data access and gaps/opportunities within Europe as described above. –Take action in leveraging the political profile in Europe. Use GMES operationalisation (or initialisation of GMES climate service) and its GEOSS contribution as opportunity. –Focus support to selected initiatives with clear gaps and GEO added value and high political visibility Establish and support enhanced European coordination mechanisms to facilitate a strong European role in GEO –Refine the intra-European committee coordination and link it with the HLWG –Mandate and support European Coordinators (points of contact) for each of the strategic targets (SBA’s and Cross-cutting issues) 3. Increase communication of European GEOSS acitivities

21. Points for discussion Comments on Water/Disasters/Climate SBA specific aspects from projects also in touch with these SBA‘s Strategically relevant SBA specific issues (other than Water, Disasters, Climate) from projects working in such SBA‘s –How to integrate such issues into common framework? Comments on cross-cutting issues from other projects: –Agreements, differences, other issues, priorities