It is very
comforting to take over a ship where the crew members all know their jobs
and the previous captains have been efficient and effective. This is certainly
the case with the good ship CEOS, and I gladly pay tribute to the work
of my predecessors and the members of the CEOS Secretariat dispersed around
the globe for the way they have progressed activities during 1998.
This does not mean, however- to continue the metaphor - that CEOS is going to cruise along quietly in 1999. I see this year as one in which, if we continue our collective efforts, we will be able to make visible progress in a number of key areas. Top priority, for me, and I am sure for all our Members and Associates, is to implement the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS), and for this we are fortunate in having Bob Winokur, of NOAA, as Chairman of the Strategic Implementation Team (SIT), with Jean-Louis Fellous, of CNES, as Vice-Chairman.
Key to success is the functioning of the IGOS Partnership, which brings together CEOS members and senior representatives of the global user programmes, such as G3OS, WMO, FAO, UNEP etc. The second meeting of the Partnership was held in Bangalore during the 12th CEOS Plenary, and we are scheduled to have a third meeting in Rome in June this year. We have also appointed a small group to carry actions forward between the meetings. It is very pleasing to see how good the relations between the various parties currently are, and I look forward to further fostering these relations during 1999.
CEOS has for some years wrestled with the problem of how best to interact with the growing commercial Earth Observation sector. Whilst this is an important area, I personally do not think that it would be appropriate at the present time to invite commercial companies to seek membership of CEOS, but I am very anxious to encourage a more systematic exchange of views with the private sector. We shall be working to this end in the coming months.
Through the efforts of the individuals involved within CEOS, the working groups have over a number of years performed much of the basic work of CEOS. This should not be forgotten even if it is true that the annual plenary meeting attracts the most attention. I hope during my period in the CEOS chair to give support to these groups, and to urge all CEOS Members and Associates to make the maximum use of their work.
A significant event for 1999 is UNISPACE -III, to
be held in Vienna in July. This will be a major political event, and CEOS
intends to play an appropriate role in making the event the success
it deserves to be. With our partners in the IGOS we will be cohosting a
workshop on IGOS. The purpose of this is to broaden awareness of the issues
involved in particular at the political level.
Meanwhile preparations have started for the 13th CEOS Plenary which is to be organised in Stockholm, Sweden, from 10-12 November 1999. I take this opportunity of wishing you all a happy and successful 1999, and count on all Members and Associates for their continued support to make 1999 a really good year for CEOS.
