Earth observation: providing open access to a maximum of data resources
Bern, 17.01.2014 - On 17 January 2014 the ministers who convened in Geneva on the occasion of the Ministerial Summit of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) appealed to the nations, scientific organisations and private sector to redouble their efforts to provide open access to a maximum of data resources. They also approved the continued operation of the GEO to 2025 and the retention of its current structure, which is based on voluntary participation.
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) was established in 2003 with the aim of increasing cooperation on the collection of data for measuring the state and development of the environment. The GEO is intended to support the improvement of the quality of the collected data and promote the provision of access to these data to a wide range of users and decision-makers, in particular, so that they can make well-founded decisions.
When it was established, the GEO set itself the goal of creating a "system of systems" which would provide access to the different systems used for observing the Earth. This system of systems is intended to help, in particular, with the prevention and reduction of  losses due to disasters, the enhancement of water and energy management, and the improvement of meteorological forecasts and climate models.
The ministers and participants adopted a declaration on 17 January 2014 in Geneva that renews the GEO's mandate to 2025. Its current governance system as an independent organisation of the United Nations with the voluntary participation of the member nations shall be maintained. The ministers also appealed to the nations and organisations active in the area of Earth observation to join the GEO, whose members currently include almost 90 states and 70 institutions. The participation of the private sector - as both the provider and beneficiary of data - shall also be increased.
Based in Geneva
Since its establishment, the secretariat of the GEO has been located in Geneva under aegis of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The Ministerial Summit enabled the long-term consolidation of this arrangement and the highlighting of the importance of ‘International Geneva' in the field of the environment, climate and Earth observation.
Switzerland contributes to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) through the specialist organisations of the United Nations, of which it is a member, for example the WMO, and through the work of the agencies, in which it participates, for example the European Space Agency.Address for enquiries
Media Section
Telephone: +41 58 462 90 00
E-mail: medien@bafu.admin.ch
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
