The Full Picture

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In my view, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiative is an outstanding example of international

cooperation in the domain of science and technology. Systematic monitoring of the Earth’s systems will

support our global efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, thereby improving human

welfare while maintaining dynamic economies and sound ecosystems. We will see the results in improved

decision-making on essential issues that concern the well-being of the planet and its people.

The European Commission is pleased to be a co-chair of the GEO initiative. The European Community is

also proud to offer its contributions to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), examples

of which are as follows:

• The 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development is open to international

participation and supports Earth observation activities in the areas of environment, space activities, and

information and communications technologies.

• Operational Earth observation activities are being pursued through the Global Monitoring for Environment

and Security (GMES) initiative. GMES will not only serve European needs for information services, but

exchange data with our international partners.

• The ‘Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe’ (INSPIRE) directive provides measures that address

exchange, sharing, access and use of interoperable spatial data and services in Europe. INSPIRE will

contribute to establishing global standards for geospatial data and information and provide a backbone for

the proposed European Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS), which is intended to provide an

efficient and interoperable infrastructure for sharing environmental information.

• Specific support is being provided for sustainable geo-information and capacity building projects in the

African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states to ensure that developing countries master the

technology they require, while allowing their own capacities, knowledge base, institutions and

infrastructure to grow without duplication.

I think it is appropriate that the GEO IV Summit should take place in South Africa, five years after it hosted

the World Summit for Sustainable Development that took landmark decisions to combat poverty and

promote environmental sustainability. The progress, demonstrated in this book, in developing the GEOSS is

a clear response to the calls for action to meet global challenges in areas such as health, the environment and

climate change. These efforts have my full support.

Janez Potocnik

European Commissioner for Science and Research

STATEMENT FROM JANEZ POTOCNIK,

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR SCIENCE AND RESEARCH