Memorandum of Understanding on the co-sponsorship
of the GOOS Steering Committee

 

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION,
THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION,
THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME AND
THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS
ON THE CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THE GOOS STEERING COMMITTEE

 

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU):

Recognizing the initiative of the IOC to create an operational Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) for the purpose of collecting comprehensive information on the properties and variability of the Earth's ocean system; for assisting in the detection of climate change and assessing its impact; to provide a basis for the development of national and international policies for resource management, coastal development and management; for assessing and preserving the health of the ocean; and for promoting related capacity building and ocean science and its application,

Considering that the required information and interpretation will involve data from activities designed specifically for GOOS, as well as from existing operational oceanographic and meteorological programmes, and data, observations and understanding from a variety of research programmes, and that the GOOS will collaborate with the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) in the definition and the implementation of the ocean-related component of the GCOS, as provided for in the Memorandum of Understanding which set up the GCOS, signed by WMO, IOC, ICSU and UNEP,

Considering further that an operational GOOS will provide data and information essential for the implementation of Chapter 18 of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), for the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), and for the Global Plan of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Sources of Pollution (the GPA),

Recalling that the mandate of ICSU is to foster international co-operation in scientific research and the application of scientific knowledge to improving our understanding and stewardship of the global environment, and that the special responsibilities of IOC, WMO and UNEP include encouraging the co-operative action of governments in all matters dealing with the ocean and atmosphere,

Agree to co-operate in the scientifically based design, planning and implementation phases of the Global Ocean Observing System for the following reasons:

  1. the planning effort requires the full involvement of the scientific community as represented by both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the IOC, WMO, UNEP and ICSU;
  2. the design and testing process will result in broadly applicable scientific and technical advances;
  3. the prospect that when GOOS becomes operational it will provide data that will also advance our scientific understanding of the ocean and enhance the data sets being acquired by on-going and planned research programmes such as those of IOC, IGBP, WCRP and SCOR;
  4. the ocean data set to be provided by GOOS is a valuable component of that required for the GCOS;
  5. there will be important benefits from GOOS for a wide range of marine activities including fisheries, coastal seas management, shipping, off-shore mining and waste disposal.

Agree, therefore, that the proposal to establish a GOOS Technical and Scientific Advisory Panel (Resolution IOC XXV.3) shall be implemented jointly by IOC, WMO, UNEP and ICSU by establishing a GOOS Steering Committee, to supersede the previous Joint GOOS Scientific and Technical Committee, which shall operate in accordance with the following principles:

  1. The IOC/WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Committee for GOOS (I-GOOS) is the recognized intergovernmental forum for nations participating in GOOS, including for the commitment of resources for GOOS implementation and related oversight.
  2. The GOOS Steering Committee will be recognized as the primary international body responsible for:
    1. The scientifically based design and testing of GOOS;
    2. Coordination of the GOOS planning and implementation process;
  3. The initial sponsors of the GOOS Steering Committee should be IOC, WMO, UNEP and ICSU. The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research of ICSU, being the principal ICSU body responsible for matters relating to ocean research, and, at the same time, the principal Scientific Advisory Body to the IOC, shall be involved in the scientifically based design and planning for GOOS.
  4. The Executive Heads of IOC, WMO, UNEP and ICSU after consultation with the appropriate Members of their organizations and in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Annex to this Memorandum, shall jointly:
    1. Appoint the Chairman and members of the GOOS Steering Committee,
    2. Arrange for the expansion of the GOOS Secretariat, located within the IOC Secretariat, to increase the GOOS Steering Committee secretariat staff,
    3. Arrange for the necessary financial support for the GOOS Steering Committee and its secretariat staff in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Annex to this Memorandum,
    4. Harmonise and coordinate GOOS activities, both internally and with the other global observing systems.

 

This Memorandum of Understanding shall come into effect on the 1st January 1998 and may be reviewed at any time at the request of one of the parties. Otherwise, it shall continue for a period of five years or until all parties agree that it should be terminated.

Other international partners in GOOS may become co-sponsors of the GOOS Steering Committee with the agreement of the initial parties to this Memorandum.

 

Signed:

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Updated: 16 Nov, 2001