Major Group: Workers & Trade
The Science and Technology Community is pleased to have an opportunity to provide input to
these important discussions on monitoring for sustainable development in the water sector. Our
Community has responded to recommendations made at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development regarding observations and water by developing a strategy for water cycle
observations and a knowledge base and tools for the interpretation and application of these
observations. As a result of three recent summits on earth observations (in Washington, D.C.,
Tokyo, and Brussels) more than 50 nations and many international organizations have committed
themselves to implementing a plan for a Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
This plan includes actions outlined in our Integrated Global Water Cycle Observation Theme
Report. Priorities for this water cycle theme deal with:
Strengthening existing observation networks;
Capacity building;
Data interpretation, assimilation, and application; and
Expanded use of remote sensing in areas such as surface water monitoring.
These priorities are supported by active research programs such as the Global Energy and Water
Cycle Experiment and the Global Water System Project. Some related science and technology
priorities include climate, ecosystems, biodiversity, and human interactions with natural systems.
However, to fully benefit sustainable development objectives and MDGs we need a program or
activity that will allow the principles, needs, and priorities for sustainable development to more
strongly influence the Earth Observation Initiative and science and technology program priorities.
The Science and Technology Community commits itself to work with the Commission of
Sustainable Development to address the information needs of management for the sustainability
of water as it plans the Earth Observation Initiative for Water and its associated science and
technology programs.
these important discussions on monitoring for sustainable development in the water sector. Our
Community has responded to recommendations made at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development regarding observations and water by developing a strategy for water cycle
observations and a knowledge base and tools for the interpretation and application of these
observations. As a result of three recent summits on earth observations (in Washington, D.C.,
Tokyo, and Brussels) more than 50 nations and many international organizations have committed
themselves to implementing a plan for a Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
This plan includes actions outlined in our Integrated Global Water Cycle Observation Theme
Report. Priorities for this water cycle theme deal with:
Strengthening existing observation networks;
Capacity building;
Data interpretation, assimilation, and application; and
Expanded use of remote sensing in areas such as surface water monitoring.
These priorities are supported by active research programs such as the Global Energy and Water
Cycle Experiment and the Global Water System Project. Some related science and technology
priorities include climate, ecosystems, biodiversity, and human interactions with natural systems.
However, to fully benefit sustainable development objectives and MDGs we need a program or
activity that will allow the principles, needs, and priorities for sustainable development to more
strongly influence the Earth Observation Initiative and science and technology program priorities.
The Science and Technology Community commits itself to work with the Commission of
Sustainable Development to address the information needs of management for the sustainability
of water as it plans the Earth Observation Initiative for Water and its associated science and
technology programs.