Cablegate: New Zealand Comments On Earth Observations: Draft

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000717

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, OES/EGC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND COMMENTS ON EARTH OBSERVATIONS: DRAFT
GOVERNANCE MECHANISM

REF: STATE 160311

1. Pip Wilson, Environment Division, New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, provided the GoNZ's response to
reftel request for comments on the future governance
mechanism for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems
(GEOSS,) and noted that Peter Stevens, from the New Zealand
Climate Change Office, would be coordinating this and any
further discussion on issues related to the Group on Earth
Observations (GEO.) Wilson stated that overall the GoNZ was
&relatively comfortable8 with the draft governance
mechanism as posited, and added that the GoNZ had proposed
additional recommendations to the Secretariat.

2. New Zealand's recommendations were as follows:

- Retitle the document from GEO to &The DRAFT Declaration
on the Establishment of the Global Earth Observation System
of Systems (GEOSS).8

- In paragraph 9, soften or remove the language on
restricting meeting attendance, because it's not in line with
the inclusive nature of the organization.

- In paragraph 12, the Executive Committee should represent
diverse needs and priorities of its members. (Note: This is
New Zealand's flag to keep the smaller Pacific nations in
mind when selecting the Executive Committee.)

- In paragraph 13, there should only be two co-chairs for the
Executive Committee. One should represent a developed
country, and the other a developing country. The term of the
co-chairs should be off-set to coordinate the passing on of
institutional knowledge.
Swindells

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