Washington, D.C., USA — At the first-ever Earth Observation Summit, ministers and other high-level representatives from around the world adopted a declaration that put forth the principles for developing a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained earth observation system to “take the pulse of planet Earth.” (See Oceansp@ce No. 491, June 16.)

Retired U.S. Navy VAdm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr. (under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere) was named by the White House (See Oceansp@ce No. 496, July 21.) as the lead U.S. representative to the ad hoc Group on Earth Observations (GEO). Lautenbacher’s alternate, Dr. Charles “Chip” Groat, is director of the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition during the first meeting of GEO, Lautenbacher was elected co-chair along with Director General Achilleas Mitsos, directorate general for research, European Commission; Mr. Akio Yuki, Japan’s deputy minister of education, culture, sports, science & technology (MEXT); and South Africa was selected as the developing country co-chair.

Lautenbacher said, “We now look forward to developing a plan to make this a reality. The overwhelming response to the [Earth Observation Summit] brought an enormously talented group from around the world who have played an important role over the years in getting us to this historic opportunity. The first meeting of the ad hoc Group on Earth Observations made considerable progress in taking the initial steps toward organizing and structuring a working intergovernmental body to meet the goals outlined during the summit. The goodwill and consensus demonstrated at the GEO meeting will bring enormous benefit to nations and regions of the world as we work toward establishing a plan to implement a global earth observation system to enhance economic and environmental security for every nation.”

The next meeting of the GEO is scheduled to take place in Baveno, Italy, on November 28-29. The purpose of the follow-on meetings, Lautenbacher said, will be to develop a framework for a 10-year plan to be presented at the next ministerial meeting to take place in Tokyo in the spring of 2004. Details for now at http://www.earthobservationsummit.gov/.