The IGOS Partnership brings together the efforts of a number of international bodies concerned with the observational component of global environmental issues, both from a research and a long-term operational programme perspective.

The IGOS Partnership was established in June 1998 by a formal exchange of letters among the 13 founding Partners for the definition, development and implementation of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy.

The principal objectives of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy are to address how well user requirements are being met by the existing mix of observations, including those of the global observing systems, and how they could be met in the future through better integration and optimization of remote sensing (especially space-based) and in-situ systems.

The Integrated Global Observing Strategy serves as guidance to those responsible for defining and implementing individual observing systems. Implementation of the Strategy, i.e. the establishment and maintenance of the components of an integrated global observing system, lies with those governments and organizations that have made relevant commitments, for example, within the governing councils of the observing systems' sponsors.

To aid the development of the Strategy, the Partners have adopted an incremental "Themes" approach based on perceived priorities.

WSSD Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Type-II Partnership

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September 2002), the WSSD Type-II Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership was launched. The IGOS Partners formed this WSSD Type-II Partnership aiming at implementing WSSD recommendations relevant to global earth observation.

IGOS Partners Process - 113kb
WSSD Type-II Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership - 61kb
IGOS-P documents and Meeting