GEO gains IPCC Observer status
News / 10 May 2019
At its 49th Session in Kyoto this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognised the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) as an official Observer.
IPCC Vice Chair Thelma Krug congratulated GEO on becoming an Observer, adding “GEO plays an important role in providing Earth observation data needed by the scientific community to advance understanding of the climate system in support of the IPCC assessment process."
GEO and its partners work to implement guidance issued by the IPCC to address principle issues surrounding climate change. As an Observer, GEO will also advocate greater visibility of the importance and role of Earth observations in the IPCC’s upcoming 6th Assessment Report.
Jose Romero, head of the Swiss Delegation to the IPCC said “With its newly obtained observer status with the IPCC, GEO continues to build strong relationships with key United Nations agencies engaged in understanding, and responding to, the challenges of climate change.”
Under the IPCC governance structure, representatives of observer organizations may attend sessions of the IPCC and its working groups, suggest experts to review draft IPCC reports, and be solicited by the IPCC Secretariat to participate in Task Groups.
Welcoming the news, GEO Secretariat Director Gilberto Camara said “The GEO community is committed to supporting climate action underpinned by open and coordinated Earth observation data, tools and services. By officially becoming an Observer organization of the IPCC, we will be able to more effectively coordinate our activities and address gaps.”
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For more information please contact secretariat@geosec.org.
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