1. The GEOSS Initiative Codata workshop, September 2005 Dhesigen Naidoo DST, South Africa

2. What is GEO  It is an international partnership initiative with a membership of 58 countries + EC and 43 international organisations  Includes 29 developing countries and 14 from Africa  Current co-chaired by South Africa, United States, PR China and the European Commission

3. Key Objective  Develop a new comprehensive, co- ordinated and sustainable Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to support decision-making for sustainable development world-wide  Realisation of a Johannesburg Type 2 initiative

4. Key Objective  “Strengthen cooperation and coordination among global observing systems and research programmes for integrated global observations, taking into account the need for building capacity and sharing of data from ground-based observations, satellite remote sensing and other sources among all countries” para 119, JPOI, WSSD,2002

5. Why a GEO  Indian Ocean Tsunami, Katrina and other natural disasters  Critical role in providing data and information services  Will include all satellite, airborne, terrestrial and water-based observations of geophysical parameters

6. Earth Observation applications  Crop yeilds  Water and air quality  Weather forecasting  Climate change  Disease patterns – fauna, flora and human  Disaster mitigation and management

7. In 10 years weather forecasting has developed equity in data utilisation Improved forecasts

8. The Ten Year Implementation Plan

9. Societal Benefit Areas Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human induced disasters Understanding environmental factors affecting human health and well being Improving management of energy resources Understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate variability and change Improving water resource management through better understanding of the water cycle

10. Societal Benefit Areas Improving weather information, forecasting and warning Improving the management and protection of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification Understanding, monitoring and conserving biodiversity

12. Meeting the Information challenges  Accessibility  Availability  Inter-operability  Capacity  Beneficiation

13. http://earthobservations.org