Draft minutes of the meeting
Implementation of the Recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on
the Exploration and
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III)
1.
The
seventh meeting of the action team #1, Develop a Comprehensive Worldwide
Environmental Monitoring Strategy was held in
2.
The
representatives from the Islamic Republic of Iran,
3.
Mr.
Parviz Tarikhi from the Iranian Space Agency, as the chairman of the meeting opened
the meeting by welcoming the participants and expressing his gratitude for the
effort put by the members and pointed out that the team is going to enter to a
new phase in its activity due to the endorsement of General Assembly of the
Plan of Action proposed by COPUOS in which the continuation of the work of the
Action Team is considered necessary.
4.
The
participants of the meeting adopted the draft minutes of the sixth meeting of
the action team that was held on 4 June 2004 on the margins of the 47th
COPUOS Meeting (Annex II).
5.
The
Chairman shortly briefed the participants on background documents with a
particular emphasis on the UNGA Res.59/2 and document A/59/174, referring
respectively to the work of the Action Teams, as a useful mechanism for implementing
results within the UN system, and to the Plan of Action contained in the
UNISPACE III + 5 Report, both to be considered as the basis for the further
work of the Action Team #1.
6.
The
chairman of the meeting also briefed the participants about the activities
carried out since the sixth meeting of the Action Team that was held on 4 June
2004 in the margins of the 47th COPUOS Meeting. He pointed out that
the activity of the action team number 1 and the necessity of its continuation
is endorsed by General Assembly in the 37th plenary meeting of its
Fifty-ninth session held on 20 October 2004, as contained in the document
A/RES/59/2 dated 3rd December 2004. He added that according the Plan
of Action of COPUOS, the work of the action team number 1 provides a solid
basis for making further progress in the follow-up to the United Nations
Millennium Summit and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. He added
also that it is an important stage for the team and it is expected that the
members of the action team put more attention and contribute more in the
activates of the team so that the team could achieve its goals as defined for
it. He mentioned that this will be possible if we put forces together to
increase the synergy as much as possible under the support and guidance of
OOSA.
7.
The
floor was then opened for discussion and, among the issues arisen, the need of
a greater participation and cooperation in the work of the Action Team among
its members, and the necessity of reorganizing the work of the Action Team was
highlighted by the delegates of
8.
The
9.
The
10.
The
need of a networking between the AT and GEO was highlighted by the Syrian
co-chairman in order not to duplicate actions on common issues.
11.
The
issue of the proposed pilot project for “the establishment of an institute on
the issue of integrated comprehensive data in environmental monitoring”
(A/AC.105/C.1/L.275 pag.30) and its duration (one year), was considered not to
be realistic by the representative of
12.
The
need of creating a network, internal and external to the AT for the exchange of
knowledge and expertise, and increasing the participation in the Action Team
were considered as key-points of the discussion. Proposals were made by the
Chairs to inquire the reasons of this lack of participation by members of
the Team (funds, unconsciousness, short-notice, etc) and possible solutions to
overcome it; to increase the participation to the AT with regard to the number
and quality of participants, and the number of meetings of the Team. The
proposal to “categorize” participants in “permanent and advisers” was made and
need of continuity in the participation by same members was also highlighted
for the benefit and the progress of the work of the AT.
13.
In
this regard, the Secretariat was asked to report to the members of the Team and
make them aware of the latest documents relevant to the Team (Res. 59/2 and A/59/174)
and the highlighted requirement of their participation.
14.
The
floor was then opened to discussion on undertaken projects related to
environmental monitoring at national, regional and global level. The pilot
projects on the monitoring of desertification and floods were considered as
priorities at the regional and global level.
15.
Concluding
remarks were made by the Chairman that can be summarized as following:
·
Review
of the organizational structure of the work of the Action Team
·
Network
and joint cooperation with other Organizations already involved in Environment
to benefit their experience and enhance the work of the Action Team
·
OOSA
could support in reporting/contacting the members of the Team and removing
obstacles to participation. In this regard, the OOSA representative took the
floor in order not to commit the Office with any specific promise and/or
commitment but offering at the same time potential support, if any.
16.
The Team agreed to hold its eighth meeting on
the margins of the next COPUOS session to be held from 8 to 17 June 2005. The
exact date of the meeting will be announced to the members after finalizing
with OOSA.
Annex I:
Agenda of the meeting
“Develop a Comprehensive Worldwide Environmental Monitoring Strategy”
Conference Room VII,
09:00-12:00 hrs.
09:00 Opening and welcome note by one of the chairpersons
09:05 Presentation of participants and election of the meeting
chairman
09:15 Approval of the Agenda
09:20 Adoption of the
minutes of the sixth meeting, 4 June 2004
09:25 Briefing the members
on the activities carried out by the team since the sixth meeting of the Action
Team on 4 June 2004 by the Iranian co-chairperson of the action team
09:35 Discussion on the
expected activities as agreed by the action team, (a) undertaking demonstration
and pilot projects related to environmental monitoring at national, regional
and global levels,
10:35 Break
10:45 Discussion on the
expected activities as agreed by the action team, (b) convening a global
conference with support by the United Nations
11:30 Conclusions
11:50 next meeting: venue and date
12:00
Adjourn
Annex II: The
Draft Minutes of the 6th Meeting of the Action Team number 1
Draft minutes of the meeting
Implementation of the Recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on
the
Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III)