Earth Observation Summit
31 July 2003

Additional information is available from the Earth Observation Summit web site.

Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans (Right) Joins Energy Secretary Abraham (Center) and Secretary of State Colin Powell before the Earth Observation Summit.  Source: Department of Commerce

The Earth Observation Summit, hosted by the United States and held in Washington, DC, on 31 July 2003, sought to:

• Promote the development of a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Earth observation system or systems among governments and the international community to understand and address global environmental and economic challenges.
• Begin a process to develop a conceptual framework and implementation plan for building this integrated Earth observation system

U.S.-Hosted Summit Brings Nations Together to Take the Pulse of Planet Earth.  Press release (31 July 2003) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Press releases from other countries:

• GMES [global monitoring environment system]: a key component of integrated Earth observation system, says French government.   Press release (dtd 8 August 2003) from the European Union's Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS).    (link posted 7 Aug 2003)
• Summit agrees to improve coordination of global Earth observation.  Press release (7 Aug 2003) from the European Space Agency (ESA).    (link posted 7 Aug 2003) 

• International Summit Aims to Improve Earth Observation.  Posting (undated, circa early August 2003) from the German Embassy in Washington, DC

Draft Terms of Reference for the ad hoc intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO).  (dtd 1 August 2003)

Declaration of the Earth Observation Summit (dtd 1 August 2003 )

President's Statement on Earth Observation Summit.  Issued 31 July 2003.

Speeches:

• Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
• Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans
• Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham
• NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe  
• Dr. John H. Marburger, Director of the Office of Science and Technology [PDF]
• Claudie Haigner�, ministre charg�e de la Recherche et des Nouvelles Technologies (France) (in French)
• The Honourable David Anderson, M.P., P.C
  Minister of the Environment (Canada)

Ask the White House.  Transcript of online interactive forum featuring NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher, 30 July 2003.

Earth Observation Summit Discusses Ways to Link Sensors Gathering Data on Earth's Condition.  Transcript and audio report (dtd 30 July 2003) from Voice of America

Additional information is available from the Earth Observation Summit web site.