N° 31–2004: Space and Major Disasters Charter agencies strengthen ties with UN-Colloquium at UNESCO, Paris
15 June 2004
On 18 June, during a colloquium at UNESCO, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), represented by its Director, Mr Sergio Camacho, will announce that the United Nations intends to remain a “cooperating body” supporting the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. OOSA intends to enhance promotion of the Charter and to act as gateway for United Nations agencies responding to natural disasters and emergencies. The colloquium is being jointly organised by the French space agency (CNES) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), with ESA participation, in the framework of the Canada-France 2004 celebrations.
ESA, CNES and the CSA became the founding parties to the Charter during the UNISPACE III conference held in July 1999. After five years in operation, the Charter has been activated more than 50 times in all parts of the world, supporting the management of disasters caused by floods, oil spills, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and fires.
To date, the founding parties have been joined as parties to the Charter by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Argentinian Space Agency (CONAE). The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has applied to become a party.
The Charter is based on voluntary contributions, by all parties, of Earth observation satellite data. Its main purpose is to supply states or communities whose populations are exposed to risk or have been affected by a natural or technological disaster with data providing a basis for anticipating and managing potential or actual crises. It relies on limited space capabilities offered by the parties but “this is a focused, concrete demonstration of what a more ambitious programme of global environment and security monitoring can deliver to disaster mitigation and crisis management authorities”, said José Achache, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes.
Media representatives wishing to attend the colloquium at UNESCO in Paris are kindly requested to complete the attached reply form and fax it back to the ESA Media Relations Division at ESA Headquarters in Paris (fax. + 33(0)1.53.69.7690).
For further information:
Stephen Briggs
Head of Science and Applications Department
ESA/ESRIN Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes
Tel. + 39.06.941.800
Josef Aschbacher
Programme Coordinator
ESA Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes
Tel. + 33(0)1.53.69.7707
Jérôme Béquignon
Programme Coordinator
Secretary of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters
ESA Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes
Tel. +33(0)1.56.04.7291
Jean-Charles Bigot
International Relations
ESA Directorate of External Relations
Tel. +33 1 5369 7738
Programme
Colloquium- Earth Observation
National, European and International Initiatives
Room IV, UNESCO - 7, place de Fontenoy
Paris, 18 June 2004
8:30 - Registration/Coffee
9:00 - Welcome to participants
Facilitator: Serge Plattard, Deputy Director, Strategy and Programmes, Head of International Relations, CNES
9:10 - Opening remarks
Marcio Barbosa, Deputy Director-General, UNESCO
9:20 - Opening
Laurette Glasgow, Minister Plenipotentiary, Canadian Embassy
9:30 - CNES Earth observation initiatives
Stéphane Janichewski, Director, Strategy and Programmes, CNES
9:50 - ESA Earth observation initiatives
Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA
10:10 - CSA Earth observation initiatives
Marc Garneau, President of CSA
10:30 - United Nations statement on the International Charter
10:45 - Break (press interviews)
11:00 - The International Charter and disaster management
Introduction and video – presentation of the Charter
Surendra Parashar, Director, Satellite Operations, CSA
Review of the first 4 years
Jean-Luc Bessis, Programmes Directorate, Risk Management Coordinator, International Charter Board Member, CNES
User perspective
Col. Philippe Nardin, Head of Mission, International Relations, Directorate of Defence and Civil Security
Future prospects
Stephen Briggs, Head of Science and Applications Department, Earth Observation Directorate, ESA
12:00 - Lunch
Facilitator: Michel Giroux, Director, External Relations, CSA
13:30 - Emerging Earth observation applications (I)
GMES, TIGER initiatives
Josef Aschbacher, Programme Coordinator, Earth Observation Directorate, ESA
World heritage protection
Mario Hernandez, Chief, Remote Sensing, World Heritage Centre, UNESCO
Public and private actors
Pierre-Alain Schieb, Head of Future Projects, OECD
14:30 - Emerging Earth observation applications (II)
Hervé Jeanjean, Continental Environment Programmes, Earth Observation, CNES
Claire-Anne Reix, Alcatel, GMES Project Manager
Bernard Coquil, EADS Astrium, Head of New Applications Development & Proposals Division, Ground Systems, Applications & Services Directorate and Patrick Houdry, Environmental & E/O Applications Senior Manager
Paul de Fraipont, Director, SERTIT
Virendra Jha, Vice-President, Science, Technology and Programmes, CSA
Ed Kennedy, Managing Director, Canadian GeoProject Centre Ferdinand Bonn, Canada Research Chair in Earth Observation, University of Sherbrooke
16:15 - Break
16h30 - Round table on future opportunities - Moderator: Luc Tytgat, Head, Space Policy and Research Coordination Unit, European Commission
Daniel Vidal-Madjar, Responsible for Earth Observation Programmes, CNES
Jean-Marc Nasr, President, Spot Image
Jean-Marc Chouinard, Head, Commercialisation Office, CSA
Pierre Engel, Director, International Network Stations, RADARSAT International
Josef Aschbacher, Programme Coordinator, Earth Observation Directorate, ESA
Walter Erdelen, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO
17:45 - Closing remarks
Stéphane Janichewski, Director, Strategy and Programmes, CNES
18:00 - Cocktail
Press contacts:
Franco Bonacina
ESA Media Relations
Tel. : + 33(0)1.53.69.7713
Fax : + 33(0)1.53.69.7690
Jean-Charles Bigot
ESA International Relations
Tel. : + 33(0)1.53.69.7738
Fax : + 33(0)1.53.69.7627
Simonetta Cheli
ESA/ESRIN Communication Office
Tel.: + 39.06.9418.0350
Fax: + 39.06.9418.0352
Colloquium- Earth Observation
National, European and International Initiatives
Room IV, UNESCO - 7, place de Fontenoy – Paris 7ème
Paris, 18 June 2004
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Please fax back this accreditation request to :
ESA Media Relations Division
Tel : +33(0)1.53.69.7690
For further information:
ESA Media Relations Division
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690