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Logos. Why an International Year of Planet Earth?. To demonstrate the huge potential of the Earth sciences in the building of a safer, healthier and wealthier Society To encourage Society to apply this potential more effectively. Who is behind the Year?.
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Why an International Year of Planet Earth? • To demonstrate the huge potential of the Earth sciences in the building of a safer, healthier and wealthier Society • To encourage Society to apply this potential more effectively
Who is behind the Year? • Initiated by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) • Co-initiated by the Earth Science Division of UNESCO • 8 Founding Partners • 17 Associate Partners
Eight Founding Partners • IUGG • IGU • IUSS • ISRIC • ILP • GeolSoc • TNO-NITG • IAEG + ISRM + ISSMGE Consortium
IUGS- Affiliated Organisations IAH IPA SEG SGA IAGOD GSAfrica SEPM CCOP AGID Other Associate Partners ICSU IGCP IOC EFG AARSE ProGeo SCA UNU 17 Associate Partners
International Year • Science Programme • Outreach Programme • UN Proclamation
Science ProgrammeEssential characteristics • Soundly based in the geosciences • Global in scope • Holistic & multidisciplinary • Human impact integral • Potential for Developing Countries • Potential for effective Outreach • Essentially ‘bottom-up’ in approach
Science Programmes 1.Groundwater – towards sustainable use 2.Hazards – minimising risk, maximising awareness 3.Earth and Health – building a safer environment 4.Climate – the “stone tape” 5.Resources – prosperity and sustainability 6.Megacities – going deeper, building safer 7.Deep Earth – from crust to core 8.Ocean– abyss of time 9.Soils- the living skin of the Earth 10. Life – pending
Outreach Programme Aims: • Generate greater awareness among the public of the wide-ranging importance of the geosciences for human life and prosperity • Stimulate awareness of the societal contributions of the geosciences within national education systems • Increase understanding of the societal importance of the geosciences on the part of decision-makers
Outreach ProgrammeGeneral • Same general criteria, size and budget as the Science Programme • Build on foundation-sponsors’ funding • Responsive to project bids, and so ‘bottom-up’ in line with the Science Programme • Multilingual • Application process continuous (no ‘rounds’)
Outreach ProgrammeExamples • Affiliate with the Year • Recycling and enhancing educational material • Support scientists from developing countries • Citizen science: involve public in research • Competitions • Stories (news, books) • Programme making • Art commissioning • Travelling exhibitions
Website www.yearofplanetearth.org www.esfs.org
From geoscientific towards political support in the UN In three steps: • Collect support from national geoscience communities • Secure support at political (Ministry) level • Obtain support at United Nations level by way of Ministries of Foreign Affairs
Steps 1 2 3 1 2 3 Political support building up ... Argentina Australia Austria Brazil Cameroon Canada China Germany India Israel Italy Jordan Kazakhstan Lithuania Mauritius Mexico Mozambique Namibia Netherlands Pakistan Poland Romania Russian Federation South Africa Tanzania Zambia
From Council towards UN General Assembly ... Three steps: • Approval of Declaration by Council of IUGS/IGC (26 August 2004) • Adoption by UNESCO’s Executive Board (28 April 2005) • Proclamation by UNESCO General Conference and UN General Assembly
Declaration The Council of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the International Geological Congress (IGC), representing the geoscience communities in 140 countries and regions at the meeting of 7000 geoscientists gathered at the 32nd IGC in Florence, Italy, declaresthat: • the geosciences can contribute significantly to a safer, healthier and wealthier world. • this potential contribution is seriously under-used by society and should be substantially increased. • proclamation of an international year under the aegis of UN member states would help the Earth sciences to make their full contribution to our sustainable stewardship of the planet. Accordingly, Council invites UNESCO’s Executive Board to adopt an International Year of Planet Earth. Florence, 26 August 2004
From Council towards UN General Assembly ... Three steps: • Approval of Declaration by Council of IUGS/IGC (26 August 2004) • Adoption by UNESCO’s Executive Board (28 April 2005) • Proclamation by UNESCO General Conference and UN General Assembly
Draft Resolution supportin the Executive Board Countries: • Algeria • Brazil • Burkina Faso • Canada • China • Egypt • Germany • Ghana Italy • Jamaica • Kenya • Mauritius • Morocco • Mozambique • Namibia • Pakistan • Russian Federation • Rwanda • Senegal • Slovenia • Sri Lanka • Sri Lanka • Swaziland • Tanzania • Turkey • Ukraine
Progress by 20 May 2005 • Support: political support by 34 nations: 3,6 billion people • Draft Resolution adopted by UNESCO’s Executive Board • 8 Founding Partners • 17 Associate Partners • IUGS/IGC Council Declaration adopted by 140 nations • Science: 9 Themes identified + 10th pending • 5 science brochures printed, 7 on website • 2 in design • 1 in development • Outreach: Web site operational, brochures & flyer printed; Newsletter; Outreach brochure printed • Linked with eGY and IPY
Strategic Alliance eGY & International Year of Planet Earth The purpose of the Strategic Alliance between the Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY) and the International Year of Planet Earth is: to facilitate collaborative scientific research and development and other programmes of the highest international standing in the interests of both parties. Signed 20 February 2005
Proposed cooperation between eGY and International Year of Planet Earth • Handling of certain data in some Science Programme Themes by eGY • Involvement of eGy in the International Year’s Outreach Programme • Participation of the International Year of Planet Earth in eGy’s ‘virtual observatories’ • Draw attention to eGY’s activities through the UN system • Mutual advertising of the two programmes’ activities in all available media outlets • Facilitate communication and cooperation by exchange of liaison personnel at the management level • Strengthen cooperation among all I*Ys
What next? • Table Resolution on Agenda for UN General Assembly and UNESCO’s General Conference • Further increase political support • Start fundraising by Development Committee • Develop Professional Organisation • Publish remaining Science brochures • Promote activities at national and regional levels