Dépôts récents

  • Evaluation of the UNESCO Strategy for Action on Climate Change (2018-2021) carried out by the International Oversight Service (IOS).: Unesco Executive Board, Two hundred and twelfth session Paris, 16 August 2021 .

    UNESCO; International Oversight Service (UNESCO-IOS, 2021)
    The present report, prepared pursuant to document 39 C/46, 39 C/Resolution 15 and 209 EX/Decision 5.I.B, provides a summary of a recent evaluation, namely the Evaluation of the UNESCO Strategy for Action on Climate Change (2018-2021).
  • UNESCO and the Ocean. [Item 29 of the provisional agenda for the 214th Session of the Executive Board.]

    United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (UNESCO, 2022)
    This item has been included in the provisional agenda of the 214th session of the Executive Board at the request of Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Palau, Portugal, Serbia and Togo. An explanatory note, together with a proposed decision is attached. 1. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) undertakes a significant number of ocean-related activities. Founded in 1960, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) brings together 150 Member States. It coordinates major global ocean programmes such as ocean observing, data management, tsunami warning, develops ecosystem-based approaches to ocean management, and acts as a custodian agency for reporting on SDG targets 14.3 and 14.a. UNESCO is also the guardian of 232 marine biosphere reserves and 50 marine World Heritage sites of outstanding universal value. 2. It is within this context that UNESCO, through IOC, is coordinating the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (“the Ocean Decade”), from 2021 to 2030. The Ocean Decade provides a common framework to ensure that ocean science can ably support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, the Ocean Decade is high on agenda of major international summits, such as the “One Ocean Summit” (Brest, February 2022) and the UN Ocean Conference (Lisbon, June 2022), setting the stage for collective mobilization on ocean and climate issues at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh, November 2022) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 3. At the One Ocean Summit, UNESCO announced its readiness to work with partners towards complete mapping of the seabed by 2030, compared to 20% currently, and to expand the work on ocean literacy, contributing to establishing more harmonious relations between humans and the ocean. These two announced ambitions complement other major UNESCO activities related to the ocean. It is relevant to note in this connection that knowledge of high-resolution ocean depth is essential to identifying the location of ocean faults, understanding of ocean currents, tides, and transport of sediments, anticipating seismic and tsunami risks, identifying natural sites and living marine resources that need to be safeguarded for sustainable exploitation. 4. The UNESCO ocean activities are conducted in line with resolutions and decisions adopted by UNESCO and IOC Member States. The second strategic objective of the UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2029) is to “work towards sustainable societies by preserving the environment through the promotion of science, technology and natural heritage”. Its third outcome is to “enhance knowledge for climate action, respect for biodiversity, water and ocean management, and disaster risk reduction”. The IOC Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2029) focuses on ocean health, ocean-climate nexus, hazard warnings, ocean economy and knowledge of emerging ocean science issues. This work strongly contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Goal 14 “Conserve and sustainably use the Oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. 5. Overall, the negative impact of climate change, land-based pollution, and other stressors on the ocean and marine life is alarming. While there is considerable progress on the international arena in terms of awareness, global efforts deployed so far to overcome these negative effects are still not up to the hoped-for level. 6. The combination of the forthcoming African Conference on Priority Setting and Partnership Development for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Alexandria, May 2022) and the UNFCCC COP 27 (Sharm el-Sheikh, November 2022) represents a unique opportunity to develop an active research agenda on ocean and climate in line with the UNESCO global priority of Africa. 7. It is suggested therefore that Executive Board adopt a decision that UNESCO continues its active involvement in major ocean related events of 2022, and supports IOC in developing necessary partnerships, further strengthening momentum of the Ocean Decade, successfully seeking extrabudgetary resources and increasing UNESCO’s overall contribution to the protection of the seas and ocean from the effects of climate change as well as the preservation of the sustainability and diversity of marine life.
  • Global Ocean Science Report: perspectives and development. Agenda item at Twenty-ninth Session of the IOC Assembly UNESCO, Paris, 21–29 June 2017

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC, 2017)
    Through Decisions EC-XLVII/6.2 and XXVIII/5.1, IOC decided to establish an Intersessional Working Group and to support the production of the Global Ocean Science Report, which presents baseline information on human and technical capacities, infrastructure and investment, as well as impacts of ocean science at the global and national level. The Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR) was published in June 2017 where the Executive Secretary launched it at the United Nations “Oceans Conference” on 8 June 2017 in six languages. It includes information gathered from Member States via questionnaires, a bibliometric analysis, as well as other published resources. As acknowledged by the Inter-agency Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDG), part of the information provided in the GOSR contains the data needed to report towards the SDG target 14.a for increasing scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, and IOC was decided to be the custodian agency for the indicator 14.a.1. Continued support by IOC Member States would allow assessing the status of ocean science capacities, infrastructure and output in a regular analysis (each 4-5 years). In addition an endorsement by the IOC Assembly will enable and support Member States to submit and access the national data through the development of a GOSR data repository and data portal.
  • Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG). Eighth Meeting Morioka, Japan 12–13 March 2015

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2015)
    The Eighth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea- Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-VIII) was held in Morioka, Japan, on 12 and 13 March 2015, at the Iwate Prefecture, under the Chairmanship of Mr Yutaka Michida (IOC Vice-Chair)
  • Developments of the IOC science programme and emerging challenges.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC, 2016)
    The development of the Ocean Science programme of IOC is based on science in support of sustainability of ocean ecosystems in a changing environment according to EC-XLV/Dec.4.4. This document presents three science initiatives and the related Terms of Reference. All three initiatives represent an intensified effort to distinguish between natural and human-induced earth system variability though analysing possible impacts and consequences on certain marine ecosystems and marine life in general: (i) the IOC International working Group for Marine Time Series (IGMETS) to be continued; (ii) a new IOC working group to investigate Climate Change and Global Trends of Phytoplankton in the ocean (TrendsPO), in particular the coastal ocean; and (iii) a new IOC working group for the Global Ocean Oxygen Network (GO2NE).
  • Review of IOC's role and involvement in the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) project.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2016)
    Further to Assembly Decision IOC-XXVIII/6.2(II) of June 2015, this document contains the results of the review of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) – IOC General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) project conducted during the intersessional period and recommendations for consideration by this Executive Council prepared by the review group with regard to IOC’s role and involvement in the GEBCO project. The responses to a questionnaire survey conducted during the intersessional period are contained in an addendum in English only to the present document. The Executive Council is invited to consider the recommendations presented in the document for further action. There are no financial and administrative implications.
  • Report of COMEST on "Water Ethics: Ocean, Freshwater, Coastal Areas".

    World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) (UNESCO-COMEST, 2018)
    Within the framework of its work programme for 2018-2019, the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) decided to continue its work from 2016-2017 on “water ethics: ocean, freshwater, coastal areas”, with the participation of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and International Hydrological Programme (IHP). At the 9th (Ordinary) Session of COMEST in September 2015, the Commission established a Working Group to develop an initial reflection on this topic. The COMEST Working Group met in Kuwait in April 2016 to define the structure and content of its text. Based on this work, a preliminary draft report was prepared and discussed during the 9th Extraordinary Session of COMEST in September 2016. The COMEST Working Group then met in Senegal in May 2017, with the participation of IHP and IOC, to discuss the revised text, and to further develop the preliminary draft report after the meeting. The revised preliminary draft report was discussed during the 10th (Ordinary) Session of COMEST in September 2017. The COMEST Working Group met again in Oslo in May 2018 to prepare a final draft of the report. The final draft report was further discussed and revised during the 10th Extraordinary Session of COMEST, and was adopted by the Commission on 14 September 2018. This document does not pretend to be exhaustive and does not necessarily represent the views of the Member States of UNESCO or the Member States of the IOC and the IOC Secretariat.
  • Outcomes of the UN SDG 14 Conference, (5–9 JUNE 2017)

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2017-01-16)
    This document provides an overview of the IOC contribution and engagement in the proceedings of the Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal14: ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’, which was convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 to 9 June 2017, and was co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden. It also provides the main outcome of the Conference that resulted in the adoption by UN Member States of a Call for Action and a list of voluntary commitments.
  • Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG). Tenth Meeting Paris, France 23–24 February 2017.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2017)
    The Tenth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-X) was held in Paris, France, on 23-24 February 2017 under the Chairmanship of Mr Alexander Postnov (IOC Vice-Chair). The meeting evaluated progress in actions and decisions taken by the Governing Bodies through IOC-XXVIII/Dec. 8.2 and IOC EC-XLIX/3.4. The Group reviewed reports by the IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Groups as well as its own Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness and Watch Operations. The Group noted with satisfaction the progress made during the intersessional period, including: - Three exercises carried out (CARIBEWave 2016, IOWAVE 2016, PACWAVE 2017) and regular communication tests - Accreditation of four Tsunami Service Providers in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (NEAMTWS) - With regards to Tsunami Evacuation Mapping: a) The PTWS successfully completed a Pilot Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP) over two years in Honduras with regional participation b) The ITIC, CTWP & IOC-UNESCO programme CARIBE EWS built experience with regards to implementation of the TEMPP and are ready to provide guidance to countries that want to implement similar projects c) The Project identified and references existing best practice evacuation mapping guidelines that countries have developed d) The PTWS will finalise project documentation and make it available to ICGs, noting the interest of IOTWMS and CARIBE-EWS  Tsunami Ready Community based performance recognition program achieved in St. Kitts & Nevis and Cedeño (Honduras)  The progress made by DBCP in developing an educational strategy to address buoy vandalism and endorse the development of the strategy and recommend that each ICG review the strategy The Group recommended the Assembly to encourage Member States to - sustain and increase technical and financial support of the tsunami warning systems in their respective regions - further promote tsunami awareness in communities and among authorities through communication and tsunami wave exercises, training, information, and community preparedness and recognition programmes - share Tsunami source scenario data as well sea level data relevant to tsunami detection and alerts - densify sea level networks particularly nearby tsunamigenic sources - extend exercises to community level and include critical infrastructure in exercises (e.g. hospitals, fire stations, police stations, electric power plants, airports, ports and harbors) The Group recommended the Assembly to instruct ICGs - to consider piloting the CARIBE EWS Tsunami Ready guidelines and report back to the TOWS-XI with a view to develop harmonized consistent global guidelines - to advocate the UN designated World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) among member states and advise them of the availability of material from the UNISDR in this regard, and share activities and materials with UNISDR and TICs - to recommend TSPs and NTWCs to also use the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to facilitate warning messages to be consistently disseminated simultaneously over many warning communication systems to many applications - to recommend TSPs and NTWCs register with international register of alerting authorities through WMO National Permanent Representative - to consider contributing any education or outreach materials related to data buoy vandalism to the DBCP for inclusion in a tool kit of regionally relevant materials to counter vandalism - the ICG/PTWS, in line with the IOC XXVII Assembly decision 8.2, to continue its work on the Key Performance Indicators to cover all aspects of the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems, aligning as closely as possible with the Sendai Framework, and share it to the other ICGs for consideration by the Member States, and report back to TOWS XI with a view to establish global KPIs - to encourage NTWCs disseminate tsunami bulletins to ports, harbours and other maritime authorities within their countries - to share the results of Tsunami exercises and communication tests with WMO to facilitate improved performance of WMO related communication systems The Group recommended the Assembly to take the following actions - to conduct a symposium in early 2018 in Paris on enhancing existing TSP and NTWC operational tsunami forecasting to further develop warning products and enhancing timely, accurate, reliable and effective decision-making and community response, involving experts from monitoring networks, seismology, tsunami forecast modelling and warning centres, maritime authorities, and national and local emergency management authorities with advice on product requirements - to extend the tenure of TOWS and its Task Teams on (i) Disaster Management and Preparedness and (ii) Tsunami Watch Operations, with ToRs as given in IOC Resolution XXIV-4 [for TOWS-WG] and IOC/TOWS-WG-VI/3 [Annex II; for TTDMP] and ToRs for TTTWO to reflect work related to enhancements to the accuracy and effectiveness of tsunami forecast information for users The Group accepted the reports from the Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness and Watch Operations and instructed the Task Team on Watch Operations - to develop in consultation with WWNWS-SC specific tsunami threat messages for vessels at sea - to consider tsunamis generated by non-seismic sources for integration into Tsunami watch operation The Group noted the information presented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the new developments on the WMO Information System and its use for dissemination of Tsunami alerts as well as WIS performance monitoring of messages and particular types of messages. The Group recommended WMO to explore rendering assistance to CARIBE-EWS concerning usage of GTS and WIS for dissemination of tsunami alerts in the Caribbean region. The Group recognized that the current financial situation strongly limits the implementation of the tasks of the Group, ICGs and Inter-ICG Task Teams and recommended that the Member States to increase their extra-budgetary contributions to the IOC to provide the needed resources for the priorities identified by TOWS-WG and ICGs.
  • Regional Working Group for the North West Indian Ocean (WG-NWIO), Second Meeting, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 27-28 February 2017.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2017)
    Dr Nasser Hadjizadeh Zaker, Director of the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) and Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) sub-regional working group for the North West Indian Ocean (WG-NWIO) welcomed all the participants to the meeting. He mentioned that it is very important to pay attention to the risk of tsunami to the countries of the NWIO from the Makran subduction zone. He acknowledged the contribution of the IOC-UNESCO ICG/IOTWMS in reducing tsunami risk in the region and reminded the Terms of Reference of the WG-NWIO. He wished all the participants a very successful meeting and an enjoyable stay in Iran. Dr Juma Al Maskari, Chair of the ICG/IOTWMS WG-NWIO thanked Dr Zaker and the Iranian government for hosting this meeting in Iran, the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat for making preparations and all the participants for participating this meeting. He recalled that the WG-NWIO has been set up in the ICG/IOTWMS-X session in March 2015. Dr Al Maskari mentioned that this meeting offers a good opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the inter-sessional period and plan future activities. He concluded by welcoming all participants to the meeting. Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Head of the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat welcomed all the participants to the meeting. He recalled that the WG-NWIO was established in the ICG/IOTWMS-X session with initial membership comprising India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan and Yemen to enhance tsunami warning system in the Makran region. He mentioned that the recent earthquake and minor tsunami events in September 2013 and February 2017 in Pakistan serve as a strong reminder that we need to closely study the Makran subduction zone to enhance the technical aspects of tsunami warning as well as awareness and preparedness. He listed the progress made in the inter-sessional period and also informed that this meeting offers a great opportunity to identify priorities in the region and develop a funding proposal for submission to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Dr. Tummala thanked Dr. Zaker and the government of Iran for hosting this important meeting. Dr Mahin Ghazani, Director of Science Department of the Iranian National Commission to UNESCO and Secretary of the Iranian National Committee for Oceanography welcomed all of the participants to the meeting. She informed that the IOC-UNESCO has an overall mandate for ocean science and capacity development in support of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. With strong regional presence, links to other regional bodies and expertise, IOC-UNESCO is rightly placed to support ocean related activities of the 148 Member States. She mentioned that IOC developed strong outreach to support national policy in ocean observations, monitoring ocean health, ocean hazards and emerging ocean issues. Dr. Ghazani listed the contribution of IOC to implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030. She thanked Dr. Zaker for hosting this important event in Iran and wished the meeting a success.
  • The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel: a retrospective.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; World Meteorological Organization (UNESCO, 2016)
    The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) is an international organization jointly supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. It operates under the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM). The DBCP has functioned effectively since 1985. This Retrospective will review the history of the DBCP, document its successes and accomplishments, highlight its approaches and acknowledge contributions from organizations and individuals. Please refer to the DBCP web site for information on the background, programmes, data and more at http://www.jcommops.org/dbcp/.
  • Large marine ecosystems: status and trends; summary for policy makers.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; United Nations Environment Programme (IOC and UNEP, 2016)
    Recognizing the value of large marine ecosystems (LMEs) and other transboundary water systems (open ocean, groundwater aquifers, lakes and reservoirs, and river basins), their continued degradation, the fragmented approach to their management, and the need for better prioritization of interventions, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) embarked on the Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP) from 2009 to 2015. TWAP objectives were to undertake global assessments of the five transboundary water systems to assist GEF and other international organizations set priorities for interventions; and develop formal institutional partnerships for periodic assessments of these systems
  • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Biennial Report 2014-2015.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO, 2016)
    Most of the activities described in this Report were conducted under the leadership of Dr Wendy Watson-Wright, the Executive Secretary of IOC during the years 2010-2014. Pending the arrival of the new Executive Secretary, Dr Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences served as Executive Secretary ad interim from 12 January to 28 February 2015. Dr Vladimir Ryabinin started his work as the Executive Secretary on 1 March 2015. He is very grateful to Dr Watson-Wright for very ably leading the IOC during her tenure as well for her support during the transitional period. The smooth continuation of the IOC Secretariat work under the interim leadership of Dr Schlegel is also much appreciated by the IOC Secretariat and Dr Ryabinin. Like UNESCO, IOC continued to work in 2014- 2015 under the significantly reduced spending plan for the approved regular UNESCO 37 C/5 Programme and Budget (2014–2015) and with reduced staff. The Secretariat, guided by the IOC Assembly and adhering to the principles of the IOC Medium Term Strategy 2014-2021, has completed all planned tasks for the period and has achieved all assigned targets at the level corresponding to the available reduced budget
  • Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS), Twelfth session, Dublin, Ireland, 16-18 November 2015.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2016)
    The Twelfth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was hosted by Ireland in Dublin, from 16 to 18 November 2015.The ICG welcomedthe continuation of the interim operational phase of the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTWS), through the Candidate Tsunami Service Providers (CTSPs) of France, Greece, Turkey, and Italy and the intention of Portugal to start operations as a CTSP in 2016.The ICG further welcomed the progress achieved by the CTSPs and the application by National Observatory of Athens (Greece) for accreditation and the intention expressed by France, Italy and Turkey to also apply for accreditation in the next intersessional period. The ICG adoptedthe document ‘Procedures for the Accreditation of TSP, as included in Annex 6.Notingfurthermore the positive results of the extended communication tests since the Tenth Session and of the second tsunami exercise for the region, NEAMWave14,and the significant increase of the participation of Civil Protection Authorities.The ICG while confirmingthe continuation of the Working Groups, as follows: Working Group 1 on Hazard Assessment and Modelling; Working Group 2 on Seismic and GeophysicalMeasurements; Working Group 3 on Sea Level Data Collection and Exchange, including Offshore Tsunami Detection and Instruments; and Working Group 4 on Public Awareness, Preparedness and Mitigation, decidedto establish a new Task Team on Architecture for ICG/NEAMTWS Governance and reorganisation review.The ICG confirmedthe continuation of regular Communication Test Exercises for the next intersessional period and quarterly Extended Communication Test Exercises based on a scenario event involving Member State Civil Protection Agencies.Decides to organise and conduct a further tsunami exercise in 2017 (NEAMWave17).The ICG confirmedthe continuation of the Steering Committee composed by the Officers and the Co-Chairs of the Working Groups and the Task Teams, and representatives of CTSPs.Recommends:I.To increase the participation of Member States in the ICG activities,II.That each CTSP provide threat level information based on their best practices, including (possibly different) decision matrices, scenario databases or other methods, these methodologies needing to be documented in the NEAMTWS Operational Users Guide),III.That all sea level data should be made available to the CTSPs and NTWCs using bilateral agreements, between NTWCs whenever possible,IV.That all tide gauge stations should transition to operational, real time status,V.To increase the number of seismic and sea level stations available in the North of Africa, and for sea level to reduce sampling and latency to 1 minute or less as far as possible,VI.That Member States should urge the active involvement of their national Civil Protection Authorities (CPAs) in the routine activities of the ICG, with the aim of making the ICG products more suitable for meeting the needs and expectations of those CPAs, VII. That NTWCs, in consultation with their CPAs, evaluate the need to provide enhanced products in the NTWC messages, such as maps, and to present and make proposals for discussion and adoption at the next ICG; The ICG acknowledged the importance of Tsunami Information Centre for the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTIC, neamtic.ioc-unesco.org)and recommended Member States to contribute funding and secondments to its maintenance and development. The Twelfth Session of ICG/NEAMTWS was attended by 46 participants from 16 Member States, and one observer organization. The need for a stronger cooperation with the ICG/CARIBE-EWS was reiterated.
  • International Hydrological Programme (IHP): 22nd session of the Intergovernmental Council (of the) International Hydrological Programme (IHP), Paris, 13-14 and 16-17 June 2016. Final Report.

    Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme; Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2016)
    Mr David Korenfeld Federman, the outgoing Chairperson of the IHP Intergovernmental Council, opened the session and welcomed all participants, expressing his wish for fruitful deliberations. He emphasized that water has emerged as one of the key issues on the international agenda due to major global developments such as the adoption of the standalone water goal in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the establishment of the High-level Panel on Water, and the recognition of the importance of water in climate change adaptation during the discussions of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the implementation of UNFCCC (COP 21). As major IHP achievements over the past two years, he highlighted: (a) the technical meeting of the IHP Bureau, held in Mexico in November 2014; (b) the celebration of the 50th anniversary of UNESCO water programmes; and (c) the publication “Water, People and Cooperation: 50 years of water programmes for sustainable development at UNESCO”. Mr Korenfeld, as the Chairperson of the Mexican IHP National Committee, further noted that during his tenure, Mexico has initiated the process for the establishment of a category 2 water centre on water security and published a 50th anniversary commemorative stamp.
  • Contribution to the future of the IOC Executive roadmap. Prepared for Forty-ninth Session of the Executive Council UNESCO, Paris, 7–10 June 2016.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2016)
    This document has been prepared in pursuance of Decision IOC-XXVIII/4 of the IOC Assembly at its 28th session (18-25 June 2015), which decided that the inter-sessional work on this subject should continue under the leadership of the IOC Officers with a view of providing a fully developed document with recommendation to the IOC Executive Council at its 49th session in 2016. Consistent with the decision, the document proposed for the review by the Executive Council results from the discussions at the Joint ‘Think Tank’ Retreat of the IOC Officers and the IOC Management Team, held from 5 to 8 January 2016 in Gilleleje, Denmark. The appendices to the document contain: (i) the draft messages adapted to specific audiences about the societal benefits of IOCs mission, programmes and activities based on the input from the sessional working group and the discussions in plenary; and (ii) a Concept note: A Second International Decade of (Integrated) Ocean Exploration, 2021-2030. Document IOC/INF-1337, ‘Synthesis of IOC development, work and results: opportunities and coincidences 1960–2015’ by Gunnar Kullenberg (past Executive Secretary) completes the documentation for this agenda item. Decision proposed: Full draft decision is presented in para. 173. The Executive Council will be requested to provide its recommendations on the proposed documentation to be used by the Officers in the intersessional period with a view of presenting the final proposal to the IOC Assembly at its 29th session in 2017.
  • Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the South China Sea Region (SCS-WG), Fifth meeting, Manila, Philippines, 2-3 March 2016.

    Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC, 2016)
    Mr Renato Solidum, Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology PHIVOLCS delivered the welcome speech on behalf of the Government of Philippines. He recalled that Philippines is a country that is exposed to several natural hazards. He indicated that PHIVOLCS is happy to host the 5th meeting of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) South China Sea Region Working Group (SCS-WG), and emphasized the importance of monitoring real time data from regional and global seismic networks in order to detect and rapidly locate, size, and characterize the source of tsunami, forecast coastal impacts and assess potential hazards. He officially opened the meeting.
  • IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Twenty-fourth Session Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28-31 March 2017.

    IOC Project Office for IODE (UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE, 2017)
    The IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange held its Twenty-fourth Session (IODE-XXIV) at the Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 28 and 31 March 2018. The Session was preceded by a 1-day scientific workshop on 27 March 2017. The IODE Session was attended by 67 participants from 31 IOC Member States and 5 Organizations. The Session adopted 4 decisions (+ 2 draft decisions for the IOC Assembly) and 6 recommendations. The decisions concerned (i) the establishment of a new IODE management structure (replacing the IODE officers; (ii) project and activity performance evaluation procedures; (iii) the establishment of an inter-sessional working group to finalize a concept paper on the IOC data and information system (ODIS); and (iv) revision of the terms of reference for the IODE QMF to accommodate the ADUs. In addition, draft decisions were prepared for the IOC-XXIX regarding the IOC strategic plan for data and information management (2017-2201) and for the IOC communication and outreach strategy for data and information management. The 6 recommendations concern (i) revised terms of reference of the Joint IODE/IAMSLIC GE-MIM in a transitional capacity; (ii) the renewal of the MoU for the IOC Project Office for IODE, Oostende, Belgium; (iii) the establishment of a new pilot project OBIS-EVENT-DATA; (iv) the ODINWESTPAC project; (v) the IODE Associate Information Units (AIUs); and (vi) the IODE work plan and budget for 2017-2019. The Committee re-elected Ms Cynthia Chandler (USA) and Mr Yutaka Michida (Japan) as IODE Co-Chairs.
  • IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange, Twenty-second Session, Ensenada, Mexico, 11-15 March 2013.

    IOC Project Office for IODE (UNESCO, 2013)
    The IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange held its Twenty-second Session (IODE-XXII) at the "Centro Social, Civico y Cultural Ensenada", Ensenada, Mexico between 11 and 15 March 2013. The Session was attended by 78 participants from 37 IOC Member States and 14 organizations. The Session adopted 20 recommendations that provided a clear path to IODE’s restructuring and re-organization. The key recommendations established a joint IAMSLIC-IODE group of experts on marine information management, an ocean data standards and best practices project and associated clearing house for data/information management practices, the IODE Associate Data Unit and IODE Global Data Assembly Centres as new structural elements, the IODE Quality Management Framework, and also revised the IODE objectives. The Committee adopted a work plan and budget that, taking into account the UNESCO financial crisis, would be based mainly on income from extra-budgetary sources. The Committee re-elected Ms Sissy Iona (Greece) and Mr Ariel Troisi (Argentina) as IODE Co-Chairs.
  • IODE Steering Group for MEDI: Third Session Drexel University Philadelphia, USA 11-13 September 2006.

    IOC for UNESCO (UNESCO, 2006)
    The Marine Environmental Data Information Referral Catalogue (MEDI) is a directory system for datasets, data catalogues and data inventories developed by IODE. The IODE Steering Group for MEDI was established to support the MEDI system. During its Third Session the Steering Group discussed the implementation of a marine community profile of the ISO 19115 metadata standard. The marine community profile developed by the Australian Ocean Data Centre Joint Facility will be disseminated for comment through a new IODE metadata discussion list. The Steering Group will review comments received and recommend a marine profile for MEDI. The Steering Group agreed that governance of vocabularies used by MEDI should be responsibility of the MarineXML group. The Steering Group also discussed cooperation with the JCOMM Water Temperature Metadata (META-T) Pilot Project and agreed that SG-MEDI can assist the META-T Pilot Project by providing discovery metadata tools and format and also with the technical governance of controlled vocabularies.

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