Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations: 12th Annual Meeting and Ministerial Summit Report

Photo by IISD/ENB

The 12th Annual Meeting and Ministerial Summit of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) were held in Mexico City on November 9-13, 2015. Marking the 10th year since the GEO was established in 2005, discussions were held this year under the slogans “Advocate,” “Engage,” and “Deliver” to formulate the next 10-year implementation plan for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), based on the theme of “Earth Observations to Address Global Challenges.”

Five organizations from Japan gathered at the event: the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and University of Tokyo Earth Observation Data Integration & Fusion Research Initiative (EDITORIA). These organizations formed JAPAN-GEO to introduce the latest research results by posters and videos at an exhibition booth at a side event.

Left: The Japan booth (photo: IISD/ENB), right: Attendees listen closely to a short lecture at the Japan booth

MEXT sent both State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Tsutomu Tomioka and Deputy Director General Akinori Mori from the Research and Development Bureau to attend the booth. University of Tokyo Professor Toshio Koike (Special Adviser to MEXT) was responsible for explaining the content to important visitors. Professor Koike is the lead scientist at the Data Integration and Analysis System (DIAS), which is producing remarkable research results in interdisciplinary cooperation through information created by integrating Earth observation data. He also serves as the research representative for the Data Integration & Analysis System Program (DIAS-P).

Vice-Minister Cao Jianlin from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and European Commissioner Carlos Moedas (responsible for research, science and innovation) visited the Japan booth to shake hands and engage in small talk with State Minster Tomioka.

Left: A group of JAPAN-GEO and State Minster Tomioka, Right: Barbara Ryan, GEO Secretariat Director, Professor Koike, and State Minster Tomioka

For more details, please visit the official website:
GEO-XII Plenary & Mexico City Ministerial Summit

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