The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS): Advancing the Global Earth Observations Agenda

摘要

This paper will provide a report on the organization and objectives of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). In particular, it will focus on CEOS coordination of space-based Earth observations in support of the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the international climate research community. This is a critically important time for CEOS and global observations. Rapid, large-scale ecosystem changes have placed environmental and climate issues high in the public consciousness of many countries. There is a heightened awareness of the ability of Earth Observation (EO) systems to address fundamental challenges to 21st century societies and to the global commons. EO is recognized as an indispensable tool for disaster mitigation, resource management, societal response to climate change, and health and welfare issues. Credible, complete, and continued information about the Earth System is necessary to governmental decision-makers and to those who elect them. Yet, national and regional space program budgets are in flux: growing in some countries, shrinking in many others. Despite varying trends, there is a growing awareness that no one government or small grouping of governments can adequately address global observational requirements on their own. Governments must collectively invest in a "system of systems" approach to global observations, to facilitate well-informed decisions (and the necessary socioeconomic tradeoffs therein) by our national authorities. How can CEOS assist in this effort? Through its organization and history, its broadly based membership of space agencies and user representatives, and the activities of its working groups, CEOS is uniquely positioned to advance the global Earth observations agenda. CEOS was created in 1984, in response to a recommendation from a Panel of Experts on Remote Sensing from Space, under the aegis of the Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations (G7) Working Group on Growth, Technology and Employment. This group recognized the multidisciplinary nature of satellite