Restricted Distribution IOC/EC-XXXVII/2 Annex 9 Paris, 22 April 2004 Original: English INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO) Thirty-seventh Session of the Executive Council Paris, 23 29 June 2004 Agenda Item: 4.4.1 REVIEW OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE GLOBAL OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM (GOOS)-REPORT OF THE INTERSESSIONAL WORKING GROUP As decided by the Twenty-first session of the IOC Assembly, a review of the organisational structure of GOOS was carried out by an external independent Review Group during 2002 03. The Report of the GOOS Review Group (IOC/INF-1185) was presented to the IOC Assembly in its Twenty-second session on 26 June 2003. Through Resolution XXII- 4, IOC decided to establish an open-ended intersessional working group of interested Member States and Representatives of the GOOSsponsoring organisations, to take into account the recommendations of the Report of the GOOS Review Group and comments from Member States, and to work mainly by correspondence to (i) revise the Terms of Reference of I-GOOS, GSC and the GPO accordingly, (ii) develop a draft plan of action; and (iii) present their findings to the IOC Executive Council at its 37th Session. The Report of the Intersessional Working Group is presented in this Document. The Executive Council is invited to: (a) review and amend if appropriate, accept or reject the actions and recommendations contained in Sections (3), (4) and (5) of this document; and (b) adopt a Draft Resolution on the restructuring of GOOS including the revised Terms of Reference of the Intergovernmental Committee for GOOS, GOOS Scientific Steering Committee and the GOOS Project Office. (SC-2004/CONF.201/CLD.10)
1. Background 1.1 As decided by the Twenty-first session of the IOC Assembly through Resolution XXI-7, a review of the organisational structure of GOOS was carried out by an external independent Review Group during 2002 03. The Report of the GOOS Review Group (IOC/INF-1185) was presented to the IOC Assembly in its Twenty-second session on 26 June 2003. 1.2 The Summary Record of the discussions in the Assembly is given in Section 4.4.2 of the document IOC-XXII/3; the salient operative points for follow up are reproduced below: 1.2.1 The 22nd Assembly noted that: a) I-GOOS is already evolving in such a way that its performance has improved, although more could be done by Member States to make it a fully effective body. b) In drawing up a Plan of Action to implement recommendations of the group, it might be appropriate to consider working jointly with other organisations such as UNEP and FAO to deal with the regional needs of countries in relation to coastal GOOS. c) The success of GOOS is dependent upon the willingness of Member States to commit themselves to sustained ocean observations on a long-term basis, and that a clear structure and modus operandi are essential for such commitment. d) The GOOS Steering Committee, with its co-sponsorship by ICSU, UNEP and WMO, provided an excellent source of advice for I-GOOS. e) The name of the GOOS Steering Committee might be altered to reflect the fact that it provided scientific and technical advice to the I-GOOS, the intergovernmental body responsible for GOOS. 1.2.2 The 22nd Assembly welcomed the statement from the Representative of SCOR that ICSU was committed to continuing its sponsorship of the GSC so long as it retained its independent status as a source of scientific advice. 1.2.3 The 22nd Assembly considered the Recommendations of the Report, of which, many are pointing in the right direction. However, it expressed concerns in terms of the substantive conclusions and implementation of the Recommendations in several areas including recommendations (a) GOOS Planning, (b) The Number of Meetings, (c) Structure Recommendation, (d) I-GOOS, (e) Applications and modelling, and (f) GOOS Regional Alliances. 1.2.4 The 22nd Assembly decided to create an intersessional open-ended working group to examine such matters and to consider the Review Group s recommendations in detail and develop an Action Plan for the consideration of the IOC Executive Council at its 37th Session. Dr Radhakrishnan (IOC Vice-Chairman and former member of the GOOS Review Group) agreed to chair the group. The Assembly instructed the Executive Secretary to invite Member States and sponsoring organisations to nominate members to participate in the working group. 1.2.5 Through Resolution XXII-4, IOC decided to establish an open-ended intersessional working group of interested Member States and Representatives of the GOOS-sponsoring organisations, to take into account the recommendations of the Report of the GOOS
Page 2 Review Group and comments from Member States, and to work mainly by correspondence: (i) to revise the Terms of Reference of I-GOOS, GSC and the GPO accordingly; (ii) to develop a draft plan of action; and (iii) to present their findings to the IOC Executive Council at its 37th Session. 1.3 By Circular Letter 2080 of 10 July 2003, IOC Executive Secretary invited Member States and GOOS Sponsors (WMO, UNEP, ICSU) to nominate an individual, preferably knowledgeable about GOOS, to be a member of the Intersessional Working Group (hereinafter referred to as ISWG) who would then: (a) provide comments on the recommendations of the 2002 Review of GOOS; (b) suggest appropriate Terms of Reference for I-GOOS, the GSC and the GPO; and (c) make suggestions for the Plan of Action for presentation to the Executive Council. 2 Composition of the Intersessional Working Group (ISWG) 2.1 The following 22 Member States and WMO nominated individuals to ISWG as listed in the Box below. Dr Colin Summerhayes, Director GPO provided the Secretarial support for ISWG. Argentina (Dr Cintia Piccolo), Australia (Dr Neville Smith), Brazil (Ms Janice Trotte), Canada (Dr Ken Denman), China (Dr Chen Zhi), Chile (Mr. Rodrigo Nunez), Colombia (Mr. Rafael Steer-Ruiz and Captain Carlos Tejada), Croatia (Dr M. Morovic), Cuba (Mr Guillermo Garcia Montero), Ecuador (Mr CPCB-SU Jorge Cardenas Amores), France (Dr Nicole Papineau and Dr Pierre Baüer), Germany (Dr Klaus-Peter Koltermann), Ghana (Dr Kwame Koranteng), India (Dr K. Radhakrishnan), Italy (Dr Silvana Vallerga), Japan (Mr Kazuhiro Kitazawa), Mauritius (Mr Vishnu Soondron), Nigeria (Dr Larry Awosika), Tunisia (Dr Cherif Sammari), Turkey (Dr Sukru Besiptepe), UK (Dr Trevor Guymer), USA (Dr Stan Wilson and Dr Eric Lindstrom), and WMO (Dr Peter Dexter). 2.2 By November 2003, responses were received from 15 members viz. Dr Cintia Piccolo (Argentina), Dr Neville Smith (Australia), Ms Janice Trotte (Brazil), Dr Ken Denman (Canada), Dr Chen Zhi (China), Mr. Rafael Steer-Ruiz and Captain Carlos Tejada (Colombia), Dr M. Morovic (Croatia), Mr Guillermo Garcia Montero (Cuba), Dr Nicole Papineau and Dr Pierre Baüer (France), Dr Klaus-Peter Koltermann (Germany), Dr Kwame Koranteng (Ghana), Mr. Kazuhiro Kitazawa (Japan), Dr R. Mukhopadhyay (Mauritius), Dr Cherif Sammari (Tunisia), Mr Trevor Guymer (UK), Dr Stan Wilson and Dr Eric Lindstrom (USA). 3. Actions Agreed by the ISWG from the Recommendations of the GOOS Review Group The list of recommendations made by the GOOS Review Group is reproduced in Annex 1 of this Report for ready reference (IOC/INF-1185). ISWG agrees with most of the recommendations of the GOOS Review Group, but felt it pertinent to take into account the more specific comments of the Member States, as elucidated below, while proposing specific actions for the consideration and endorsement of the Executive Council [Note that where a name change for a body has been recommended within this Report, the new name (acronym) is used within the Actions].
Page 3 3.1 Mandate for GOOS: The mandate for GOOS as set out at the 16th IOC Assembly in March 1991 in Resolution XVI-8, should have the following clarification added: GOOS is a comprehensive, end-to-end system, which includes all those global, regional and national data and products that are collected and generated in accordance with the agreed Policy, Principles and Strategy of GOOS, and which are relevant to the requirements of GOOS as determined by the Member States from time to time. 3.2 Role of Research Community in GOOS I-GOOS and the IOC recognize and encourage the substantial contribution made to GOOS by the research community. The active long-term involvement of the research community in all aspects of GOOS including technical development, planning, testing and assessment, and as full users of GOOS data and products, is welcomed and encouraged. IOC and I-GOOS encourage the research community, in close cooperation with the national operational agencies, to focus on the development of applications and also to encourage their national operational agencies to fund systematic and sustained observations that will provide data for research as well as for operational applications. Also, I-GOOS and IOC should facilitate funding assistance by governmental or intergovernmental organizations to the research community to enable them to contribute effectively to GOOS. 3.3 GOOS Planning I-GOOS and IOC should encourage and advance realistic incremental planning of GOOS, taking account of research plans and activities, and including realism over the expectation of the extent to which coastal data will be included within GOOS and therefore within the eventual remit of JCOMM and other implementation bodies. 3.4 National Coordination 3.5 GOOS Initial Observing System 3.6 GOOS Pilot Projects The Member States, through I-GOOS, should recognize the important role of Pilot Projects including those that are stimulated by the research community, by the GRAs, and by the other bodies and organisations of the GOOS Community. Such Projects should be viewed and evaluated within the context of GOOS Policy and Principles and the already agreed definition of a Pilot Project. It is important that GOOS generally and I-GOOS in particular is sufficiently well informed of the progress of such projects so that it can make informed and sensible decisions about which of them should be taken forward to operational status.
Page 4 3.7 Current Structure The GOOS Project Office should develop, taking into account the comments in section 3 and section of the GOOS Review Group s Report and calling on the advice of I-GOOS and GSSC as needed, a set of wiring diagrams and lists that clearly show the role, functionality and linkages of the bodies and projects of GOOS. 3.8 The Number of Meetings 3.9 Structure Recommendation The recommendation of the GOOS Review Group as illustrated in Figure 6 of the GOOS Review Group s Report may be accepted. The revised Terms of Reference of I-GOOS, GSSC and GPO are given in subsequent paragraphs of this Report. 3.10 Documentation of the Review Outcome 3.11 Improving the Effectiveness of I-GOOS In reference to Recommendation 5.1 (a) of the Review Group, I-GOOS should remain the Intergovernmental Committee for the Global Ocean Observing System under IOC with status as a Main Subsidiary Body and the present sponsoring arrangements with WMO and UNEP should be continued. With reference to Recommendation 5.1 (b) of the Review Group, the I-GOOS Board should function as an Executive Body of I-GOOS (and not as a specialised meeting of IOC as recommended by the Review Group) during the inter-sessional period of I-GOOS and follow the Terms of Reference given by I-GOOS. Recommendation 5.1 (c) to (g) of the Review Group may be accepted. With reference to Recommendation 5.1 (h) of the Review, the meeting frequency of I- GOOS should continue to be at a two-year interval (and not once in four years as recommended by the GOOS Review Group) unless or until it becomes clear that a longer frequency is more appropriate. The appropriateness of the time interval should be reviewed regularly by the IOC governing bodies. 3.12 Improving the Effectiveness of JCOMM in relation to GOOS Recommendations 5.2 (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) may be accepted. Recommendation 12, part b, of the Review is rejected. 3.13 Improving the Effectiveness of IODE in relation to GOOS The actions recommended by the GOOS Review Group may be accepted. 3.14 Improving the Effectiveness of GSC In addition to the conclusions contained in Recommendations 5.4 of the GOOS Review Group, and taking note of concerns expressed at the 22nd Assembly of the IOC, the
Page 5 present GOOS Steering Committee should be renamed as GOOS Scientific Steering Committee (GSSC). 3.15 Application and Modelling 3.16 Capacity Building Panel 3.17 GOOS Project Office The actions recommended by the GOOS Review Group may be accepted. 3.18 GOOS Regional Alliances (GRA) With regard to the recommendations 5.7 (a) and (b) of the Review Group, the revised ToR incorporates the Observer status of GRAs in I-GOOS. It may be noted that the GOOS Regional Alliances at the Second GOOS Regional Forum held in Fiji in February 2004 agreed to form a Council grouping all GRAs. Recommendation (c) of the Review Group may be accepted. With regard to the recommendation 5.7 (d) of the Review Group on relation between IOC Regional Bodies IOCINDIO, IOCWIO, IOCEA with the GRAs GOOS-AFRICA and IOGOOS, ISWG makes a general recommendation that where possible GRAs should map onto and be part of IOC s regional bodies. Further it is suggested that: (i) (ii) (iii) the development of GOOS-AFRICA on the Atlantic coast of Africa should be done in full consultation with IOCEA, and seen by IOCEA as its contribution to GOOS; the development of GOOS-AFRICA on the Indian Ocean coast should be done by two bodies viz. GOOS-AFRICA and IOGOOS, in full consultation with IOCWIO, and seen by IOCWIO as its contribution to GOOS. IOGOOS develop GOOS in the remaining Indian Ocean area in full consultation with IOCINDIO, and that this development is seen by IOCINDIO as its contribution to GOOS. 4. Terms of Reference for I-GOOS, GSSC and GPO 4.1 The Intergovernmental Committee on GOOS (I-GOOS) The terms of reference of I-GOOS are to be revised as follows: The Intergovernmental Committee for GOOS (I-GOOS), functioning under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and with sponsorship from WMO and UNEP shall have the overall responsibility for promotion, planning and coordination of GOOS, including development of consensus on policy, principles and strategy. I-GOOS will:
Page 6 (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) assess regularly the user requirements for information products and services, including the needs of (a) international and regional conventions and treaties, and (b) regional and national development; facilitate development of scientific and technical strategy as well as scientifically sound plans, on the advice of the GOOS Scientific Steering Committee and in close coordination with JCOMM and IODE acting as technical main subsidiary bodies as appropriate, for the sustained development of both the observing systems and its utilisation for generation of information products and services for meeting the above needs; approve overall plans for the implementation of GOOS elements, according to the agreed principles and strategy; facilitate the implementation of such plans through national initiatives and regional initiatives, using JCOMM and GOOS Regional Alliances (GRAs), as appropriate; identify the resources needed for GOOS and the means of obtaining them; monitor, review and assess the progressive development and implementation of the components of GOOS in close coordination with JCOMM and IODE; propose changes as required; assist in developing the capacity of all Member States to contribute to and benefit from GOOS and in particular aid countries to acquire and make best use of information products and services derived from GOOS; provide guidance to the Director of the GOOS Project Office on priority needs for GOOS development, coordination and implementation; represent GOOS at Intergovernmental meetings, For implementing these activities, the I-GOOS shall: a) work through bodies responsible for the various existing programmes and activities such as JCOMM, IODE and GIPME / MARPOLMON; b) maintain close liaison with relevant bodies of other UN and regional organisations, such as FAO, ICES, IMO, PICES and UNEP; c) maintain liaison with related research programmes, projects and pilot projects as input to the design and development of GOOS and to ensure GOOS responds as appropriate to research needs; d) develop and maintain a strategy, in coordination with JCOMM, for providing training and technical assistance within the TEMA framework; e) support and co-ordinate regional development of GOOS, by fostering strong GOOS Regional Alliances and working through the Council of GRAs; f) commission cost-benefit studies of GOOS;
Page 7 The Chair and two Vice-Chairs of I-GOOS will be elected by the members from among them (in their individual capacity) for a two-year term. The Director GPO will be the Technical Secretary for I-GOOS. The Chair or other designated representative of the GSSC, JCOMM, IODE, and GRAs as well as representatives of the GOOS sponsoring organisations (IOC, WMO, UNEP, ICSU) will have Observer status in I-GOOS sessions. I-GOOS shall meet at two-year intervals until decided otherwise by the IOC governing bodies. The I-GOOS Board shall function as an Executive Body of I-GOOS during the inter-sessional period. The membership and terms of reference for the I-GOOS Board will be decided I-GOOS. 4.2 GOOS Scientific Steering Committee (GSSC) The GOOS Scientific Steering Committee (GSSC), composed of nominated experts in relevant disciplines of marine science and global observation and co-sponsored by IOC, WMO, UNEP and ICSU, has the responsibility to provide scientific and technical advice to I-GOOS, the Intergovernmental body responsible for GOOS. GSSC will: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) advise the I-GOOS on all scientific and technical aspects of GOOS, as well as on the resource requirements; develop, for the I-GOOS and other sponsors, a long-term strategic plan and accompanying short- to medium-term action plans and targets for GOOS, subject to approval by Member States and to be presented and updated at each session of I-GOOS; be responsible for the scientific and technical aspects of GOOS design, and undertake appropriate activities to support the design process; coordinate and take responsibility for GOOS planning and provide oversight during the implementation process, on the basis of the scientific and technical design, and of intergovernmental requirements and resources as expressed through I-GOOS; submit reports to the sponsoring organisations and to I-GOOS at appropriate times; review and provide advice on budget and staffing plans for the GOOS Project Office related to the work of the GSSC and its subordinate scientific and technical bodies. For implementing these activities, the GSSC shall: (a) (b) (c) identify the observational requirements (user needs) and products in cooperation with I-GOOS; define design objectives; and recommend coordinated actions by the sponsoring organisations and other relevant organisations and agencies; identify and encourage research efforts, in close cooperation with the ongoing international research programmes (such as IGBP and WCRP) in order to promote studies of importance for the development of GOOS; suggest processes for the migration of research measurements into operational ones, in close coordination with JCOMM;
Page 8 (d) (e) (f) recommend priorities for pilot projects and new technologies needed for GOOS; periodically evaluate the scientific integrity of the different components of GOOS; recommend to JCOMM and I-GOOS, capacity building activities that improve the scientific capabilities of developing countries and increase the opportunities for developing countries to benefit from GOOS data and products. The above functions may be accomplished by the GSSC through its subordinate bodies such as OOPC and COOP, as appropriate. The membership and terms of reference for the subordinate bodies of the GSSC viz. OOPC and COOP will be decided by the GSSC. GSSC shall comprise of (a) scientific and technical experts (a maximum of 12), selected with the assistance of the sponsoring bodies, on the basis of their personal expertise, so as to provide a balanced representation of the major scientific and technical disciplines and of the major operational and research programmes, including governmental, contributing to GOOS, (b) one representative of each of the GOOS sponsoring organizations; (c) the Chairperson of I-GOOS, JCOMM and IODE (d) representatives of the other global observing systems; (e) individual experts as needed including the chairs of GSSC advisory panels. The Chair and a Vice-chair will be chosen by the sponsors from among the members. The Director of the GPO will be the Technical Secretary for GSSC. GSSC shall meet annually until decided otherwise by the IOC governing bodies. 4.3 GOOS Project Office The GOOS Project Office (the executive office for the GOOS Organisation and part of the Secretariat of IOC under the line management of the Executive Secretary, IOC), administers the planning, coordination and implementation of GOOS on behalf of participating countries and sponsors in addition to supporting I-GOOS, the GSSC, and JCOMM. The GPO will: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) provide technical support to the GOOS related groups of the Commission; assist in the execution of decisions and resolutions which have been taken by the different organs of the Commission which are related to GOOS and by the governing bodies of the Commission; promote, and manage GOOS, under the guidance of I-GOOS, with particular emphasis on capacity building; identify the resources needed for GOOS and the means for obtaining them; develop and update plans for initiating implementation stages and monitoring the progress of GOOS; liaise and co-operate with WMO in the promotion, co-ordination and development of JCOMM functions, as well as in the organization and conduct of JCOMM sessions; (vii) liaise with related research projects and other observing system bodies as appropriate;
Page 9 (viii) prepare explanatory outreach materials and maintaining appropriate web sites to educate the public about the purpose of GOOS; (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) manage GOOS Regional Offices; support promotion and nurturing of GRAs; support the work of I-GOOS, the GSSC and JCOMM, and their subsidiary bodies; liaise with IODE; (xiii) develop work programmes and budgets in consultation with regional offices and the bodies involved; (xiv) (xv) raise funds for GOOS coordination and implementation, in close coordination with sponsors and appropriate groups; make cost estimates of GOOS in terms of existing activities, new activities, utilization of satellites, technical assistance, training and other value-added services, and periodically review the predicted costs and benefits, including the costs of technical assistance and training; (xvi) support the I-GOOS in terms of GOOS outreach through publications and web site. 5 Suggested Plan of Action 5.1 Finalise the revised ToRs in consultation with the Sponsors of GOOS and present to the IOC-EC. 5.2 Draft Resolution for 37th EC, taking into account the recommendations of the Review Group, comments from 22nd Assembly of IOC and the Intersessional Working Group. 5.3 Incorporate the accepted changes in the GOOS 2005 (Revision of GOOS 1998 Document.