Geneva, November 4, 2015 — Hosted by the Government of Mexico, the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) will convene its international Plenary and Ministerial Summit on 9-13 November in Mexico City.
Against the backdrop of recent approval of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Ministers will adopt a 10-year Strategic Plan designed to bring accurate, timely data and other information to decision makers facing the unprecedented impacts on their populations of environmental change.
Established in 2005 to unleash the power of open data, GEO drives the interoperability of Earth observations from satellites, airborne, and land- and water-based monitoring systems with the aim of strengthening national and regional prediction, preparedness and prevention across a range of societal sectors. GEO has 100 member governments, with Co-Chairs from the European Commission, China, South Africa and the United States.
Highlights include :
• 13 November, 9 am to 10 am, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Opening Session of the Ministerial Summit followed by a photo session.
• 10 – 12 November, Hotel Hilton Reforma, An exhibition highlighting technological innovation and global, regional and national Earth observation programmes
• 9 – 12 November, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hotel Hilton Reforma, Side Events on all GEO’s communities including the environment, disasters, forest cover and more:
– 10 Nov, 1.30 pm, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a new plan to better understand ocean-based ecological diversity in the Americas
– 10 Nov, 9.00 am, Hilton Reforma, Earth observations for Sustainable Development
– 10 Nov, 2.30 pm, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, A forum underscoring the significant and innovative role of the Global Agricultural Monitor in bolstering food security
– 11 Nov, 10.45 am, Hilton Reforma, GEONETCast satellite network news announcement
Details about numerous additional events are found at: http://bit.ly/1iAJPGu Journalists attending GEO events are encouraged to register in advance at http://www.earthobservations.org/documents/geo_xii/geo12_press_accreditation_form.pdf.
Journalists also are invited to attend two regional geospatial events for Latin America being held in conjunction with GEO Week:
• Latin America Geospatial Forum; 10 to 12 November, Hotel Hilton Reforma
• Annual meeting of the UN initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UNGGIM): Americas
