Parliamentarians from African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union visited ESOC today. The parliamentarians are in Germany for the Joint Parliamentary Assembly ACP-EU, which is taking place in Wiesbaden, 23-28 June 2007. The delegates were accompanied by members of the European Parliament and the European Union Commission and were briefed on ESA’s Earth

International GIS Crime Mapping Conference September 24 – 26, 2007 Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Brussels, Belgium The fields of GIS and crime mapping present a very exciting opportunity for police forces, government bodies, councils and community partnerships. The added functionality of GIS over computer mapping, and recent developments in GIS and spatial analysis applications have

China plans to launch in September the third earth resources satellite jointly developed by China and Brazil, said Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration here Thursday. Satellite 02B will be soon moved into a space environment simulator and go through a number of tests, said Sun. Before returning to China in April

A new Sino-Brazilian earth-observation satellite has entered a three-week testing phase and is scheduled to be launched from Taiyuan around September. Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) started working on the so-called Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) 02B satellite last June. Scientists hope the satellite, the third jointly developed by the space agencies of China

Synergy between all kind of observations – being from active or passive, wireless or wired, fixed or mobile, remote or in situ sensors ñ is primordial to support a better understanding of the complex interactions between human activities and environmental pressures and impacts. This was the recurrent issue highlighted by a hundred of participants to

The contribution the space industry makes to our daily lives is far more significant, and tangible, than merely providing us with a better understanding of the universe ñ important as that is. The sector plays a crucial role in ensuring Europe has a high level of technological and industrial capability and makes its presence felt

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, the Government of Austria and the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2006-2008 are jointly organizing the second series of three consecutive symposia to promote activities to carry out the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002.

The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) has organized a seminar on Global Change, one of the key issues for our times, and on the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) proposed to be built over the next 10 years. The seminar will be held at UNESCO Headquarters, 7 place de Fontenoy in Paris on Sunday

The Heads of State and Government agreed at Heiligendamm to achieve the goal of cutting global CO2 emissions by half by 2050 as part of a UN process. Resolutions adopted by the EU, Japan and Canada form the basis of the agreement reached on climate protection, adding the approach suggested by the United States by

Bournemouth University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Curran, is this yearís recipient of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) Patronís Medal. Professor Curran is awarded the honour for his international contributions to Earth observation (EO), an important field in contemporary geographical science and discovery. A former NASA research scientist and advisor to the European

To Discuss Space Exploration, International Cooperation in Space-Based Disaster Management, and Use of Satellite Technology for Sustainable Development The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) will hold its 50th session in Vienna, Austria, from 6 to 15 June. Celebrating its 50th anniversary and 50 years of space achievements, the Committee

The GMES and GEOSS initiatives, in concert with other activities, are creating a paradigm change in geo-spatial and environmental information sharing and recognise that geo-spatial products and services are key to both economic return and management of global issues. Programme ìIntegrating in-situ monitoring and Earth Observation in the framework of GMES and GEOSSî Open cluster

The GMES and GEOSS initiatives, in concert with other activities, are creating a paradigm change in geo-spatial and environmental information sharing and recognise that geo-spatial products and services are a key to both economic return and management of global issues. The European Association of Remote Sensing Companies, EARSC in collaboration with the European Commission, Information Society Directorate General (DG INFSO) are organising the workshop entitled ?¨Integration in-situ monitoring and remote sensing in the framework of GMES and GEOSS?Æ on Thursday, May 31st 2007 in Brussels.

After joining the Space Council as an official permanent observer, EUMETSAT will be able to express its views in this European forum, where space issues are coordinated by EU and ESA Ministers in charge of space matters. In particular, its activities as an operator of GMES ñ related satellites and its provision of data and

Ministers in charge of space activities in ESA’s Member States, and those tasked with internal market, industry and research within the European Unionís Competitiveness Council, met in Brussels today to adopt a Resolution on the European Space Policy. Jointly drafted by the European Commission and ESA’s Director General, the European Space Policy outlines the strategic

After being published in the official Journal on the 25th April 2007, the directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) entered into force on 15 May 2007. At the same time, the INSPIRE Works Programme for the development of the Implementing