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Global change is a common issue that must be addressed by the world communities together, as it affects
almost all aspects of national economic and social development, the ecological environment, energy and
water resources, human health and the sustainable development of human societies. In response to this
challenge, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) was created in 2005 as an intergovernmental
organization to lead and coordinate existing Earth observation systems and to plan for the development of
the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), on which nine key areas – the ‘societal benefit
areas’ – were based.
Remarkable progress has been achieved by the GEO community. GEO has become the largest international
organization in the field of Earth observations with 71 countries, the European Commission and 46
Participating Organizations. As a core data dissemination component of the GEOSS, GEONETCast
(composed of EUMETCast, FENGYUNCast, and GEONETCast-America), has started to provide global users
with Earth observation data and products and has brought about a fundamental change in global data
sharing. GEONETCast has also removed the huge costs associated with the unnecessary duplication of
satellite ground stations, as well as making access to data far easier. This has been made possible by the use
of Digital Video Broadcast-Satellite communication technology. In the Asia-Pacific region, the Chinese
Government has donated seventeen FENGYUNCast user-reception systems to developing countries to help
receive Earth observation data. The GEOPortal constitutes another widely recognized achievement, which
links existing Earth observation networks and provides users with data, decision making tools, and
information visualization services. Through the GEOPortal, decision-makers, researchers and the general
public have all the required data at their fingertips for direct application.
With strong support from the GEO Secretariat, this year the Asia-Pacific region has held two workshops, in
Tokyo and in Beijing. The former focused on the social benefits of GEOSS and the latter addressed GEOSS
data sharing issues. These events promoted the development of Earth observation systems in the region as
well as highlighted the upcoming GEO Ministerial Summit. I would like to take this opportunity, to appeal to
all countries to work together toward a quicker completion of GEOSS, so as to make an even greater
contribution to disaster prevention and mitigation, to economic development and to social progress on a
regional and global scale.
Dr Zheng Guoguang,
Administrator of China Meteorological
Administration and GEO Co-Chair
STATEMENT FROM DR ZHENG GUOGUANG,
ADMINISTRATOR OF CHINA METEOROLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION AND GEO CO-CHAIR