During a recent meeting that took place in Uganda’s capital Kampala, GEO announced promotion of a more timely acquisition and dissemination of relevant observations and information through the use of the Global earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

GEO also called on African countries to embrace the Earth Observation in addressing natural and human induced hazards.

GEO includes over 70 member countries, 16 being African countries, the European Commission and more than 46 participating organisations.

African countries stand to benefit from the Earth Observation in such a way that once in function, over the ten years countries will have nine societal benefit areas. These include disaster reduction, human health improvement, energy resource management, water resource management and understanding and adapting to change. Other benefits will be variability and change, improved water forecasting, management and protection of ecosystems, sustainable agriculture and understanding and conserving biodiversity.

GEO is developing a system of systems that will provide comprehensive, coordinated Earth observations from thousands of instruments working around the globe. This “system of systems” will collect data that can be transformed into information essential to achieving the nine societal benefits.

According to Prof. Jose Achache, Director GEO Secretariat in Geneva, global changes have become a reality and are bringing an increase to the frequency and intensity of hazards and disasters which are particularly pertinent to Africa. These include sand storms, droughts and flood. “Earth observations is key to finding the best solutions to address these threats as well as life threatening related health concerns such as hemorrhagic fevers or meningitis,” says Achache.

GEO aims to develop the use of Earth observations by a broad range of communities from developed and developing countries, including governments and other decision and policy makers at many levels, scientists, industry, emergency responders, international and non-governmental organisations and the public.

Because implementation is neglected in Africa especially that of scientific findings, GEO will change this through implementing projects that assist science plans and finding by African researchers and scientists. They will involve especially young African scientists and researchers who will research and write on disasters in Africa in a bid to build their capacity. GEO will also work towards promoting capacity building of communities and sharing vital information collected with these communities and will support sound, rational management of the earth, environment and resources.  

However, according to Giovanni Rum, Senior Programme Officer GEO challenges still remain in Africa when it comes to earth observation. Africa may be blessed with intelligent scientists, but it still lacks the technical facilities that are needed for observation. “African governments will have to build the essential facilities of observation system and keep them working. Then of course there are the technicality problems and the policy ones to look into,” says Rum.
The forthcoming GEO Ministerial Summit to be held in Cape Town November 30 will reinforce the commitment of GEO members and participating organisations towards the development and sustained operations of GEOSS.  

The GEOSS vision is a 10-year Implementation Plan, which represents the consolidation of a global scientific and political consensus. According to GEO, although damage cannot be completely avoided, they plan to use GEOSS to have better coordination of observation system data that will improve preparedness and thus reduce losses and help protect other resources. “Improved monitoring of hazards and delivery of information about them are critical to prevent hazards from becoming disasters.”