USUNESCO: INTERNATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 PARIS 004799

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO

STATE FOR IO/T JANE COWLEY, EB PAUL ACETO, OES/STAS ANDREW

W. REYNOLDS, OES/OA Liz Tirpak
STATE FOR USAID NORMAN RIFKIN
STATE FOR NSC GENE WHITNEY
STATE FOR NOAA RICHARD SPINRAD, ARTHUR PATTERSON
STATE FOR OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH GLOBAL OFFICE,
OCEANOGRAPHER OF THE NAVY
STATE FOR EPA
STATE FOR NSF MARGARET LEINEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC TSPL EAID SENV IZ UNESCO KSCI
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: INTERNATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISION
ASSEMBLY (IOC/UNESCO) ESTABLISHES FRAMEWORK FOR TSUNAMI
WARNING SYSTEM, ADVANCES U.S. GOALS ON EARTH OBSERVATION

Ref: A) Paris 1496, B) Paris 2415, C) Paris 3024, D) Paris

4310


1. Summary and Introduction: At the 23rd Session of the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Assembly --
which took place June 20-30 2005 at UNESCO Headquarters in
Paris -- the U.S. delegation (USDEL) met all of its
objectives. These included: encouraging fiscal transparency
and accountability; further integrating the mission of the
IOC with that of UNESCO's science and education sectors
through mutual capacity building initiatives; and enhancing
development of the Global Oceans Observation System (GOOS)
and tsunami warning systems within the context of the Global
Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). USDEL
facilitated the drafting of resolutions that established a
framework for a global tsunami and other ocean-related
hazards early warning system, and formally launched regional
efforts in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, and the
Mediterranean and Northern Atlantic. In addition, the U.S.
retained its seat on the Executive Council and gained a Vice
Chair slot on the International GOOS Steering Committee.


2. Regarding the budget and strategic planning, the
Assembly established a group (to work on-line in coming
months) to plot strategy for the 2008-2009 program and
budget that will take into account opportunities and
challenges for operational oceanography posed by rapidly
evolving technology and the development of the GEOSS.
Regarding the 2006-2007 budget, USDEL led efforts to reject
a draft budget presented by the secretariat that lacked
clear rationale. The Assembly endorsed instead a revised
budget that applies a uniform cut (of approximately 26
percent) to all IOC programs as an interim measure. USDEL
also secured regular budget funds for the World Climate
Research Program: the IOC contribution to this program has
historically been sustained with U.S. extrabudgetary
contributions.


3. USDEL was led by U.S. Representative to the IOC and the
NOAA/National Ocean Service Administrator, Dr. Richard
Spinrad, and was comprised of experts from EPA, Navy (ONR
Global Office, Oceanographer of the Navy),NOAA (National
Ocean Service, National Weather Service, Oceans and
Atmospheric Research),National Marine Fisheries Service,
and State (U.S. Mission to UNESCO, OES/Oceans Affairs). The
Assembly of 132 IOC Member States ran in parallel with five
working groups and three intersessional committees (Finance,
Elections, Resolutions). Several sidebar meetings and a
reception hosted by the US Permanent Delegate to UNESCO,
Ambassador Louise V. Oliver, were conducted to reinforce the
goals of the USDEL.


4. Full text of the report and resolutions can be found at
www.unesco.ioc.org (or contact Liz Tirpak DOS/OES/OA,
tirpakej@state.gov, 202-647-0238). Major decisions and
resolutions are highlighted in the following paragraphs.
End Summary and Introduction.

USDEL Promotes Strategic Ocean Research and Observations
Priorities at IOC Assembly: Highlights


5. Key U.S. Achievements at the 23rd IOC Assembly:

The U.S. actively participated in the negotiation of four
resolutions that separately 1) approved the effort to
establish a framework for the Global tsunami and other ocean-
related hazards early warning system, and 2) formally
established such initiatives in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean,
and the Mediterranean and Northern Atlantic regions (REFS A,
B)(see para 6).

NOAA Administrator, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher,
addressed the IOC in his capacity as GEO co-chair, and
reinforced the IOC resolution that calls on GOOS to serve as
the ocean component of GEOSS (para 10).

U.S. re-election to the IOC Executive Council, and as a Vice
Chair of the International GOOS Steering Committee, assures
continued opportunity for the U.S. to shape IOC and GOOS
development (paras 11,25).

The Assembly adopted a U.S. proposal for a new strategic
approach to address the 900K USD cuts in UNESCO funding over
the new biennium. The U.S. proposal "saved" the IOC mapping
program (that had been eliminated in a Secretariat budget
proposal) and launched a new strategic review of IOC program
and budget over the next year (paras 23-24).

The U.S., supported by other developed states, succeeded in
stabilizing IOC funding to the World Climate Research
Program, a U.S. and IOC priority for over the past decade
(para 16).

Tsunami Warning System (TWS): Global and Regional Systems

SIPDIS
Formally Launched


6. The Assembly adopted four resolutions that separately
approved 1) the creation of a framework for the Global
tsunami and other ocean-related hazards early warning

SIPDIS
system, and 2) the formal establishment of such initiatives
in the regions of the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, and the
Mediterranean and Northern Atlantic. Australia announced
its willingness to serve as the Secretariat of the Indian
Ocean system - which was met with some resistance by India's
UNESCO Perm Del, insisting that its name be removed from the
list of co-sponsors of the IOTWS resolution - and announced
the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Coordination
Group for the Indian Ocean April 3-5 in Perth. The intent
of the Perth meeting will be to work with experienced TWS
operators to help draft the technical requirements. India
will host a meeting later in the year to review the results
of IOC-WMO assessment teams that are currently evaluating
the infrastructure needs of the Indian Ocean states. USDEL
involvement ensured formal Assembly recognition of the
necessary linkages to the efforts of GEO and WMO.

Capacity Building Strategy and Implementation Plan


7. Since 2003, the IOC has been developing an integrated
Capacity Building initiative; this initiative was formally
launched with the adoption of Resolutions at this Assembly.
The U.S. has played a key role in this process through
financial and technical support. At the Assembly, USDEL,
collaborating with the U.S. Mission to UNESCO, provided
strong support to the adoption of the IOC capacity building
(CB) Strategy and Implementation Plan. U.S. proposals to
encourage support of GOOS implementation through the IOC
capacity building initiative and to encourage IOC
participation in UNESCO's cross-sector capacity building
initiative were included in the two adopted resolutions.


8. The new biennial work plan for the IOC's capacity
building program will consist of:
- regional assessments of existing capacities to undertake
marine scientific research and operational oceanography;
- workshops to draft project proposals addressing high
priority regional issues with clearly defined deliverables
and associated performance indicators;
- team-building workshops to develop regional networks of
scientists; and
- collaboration with UNESCO's cross-sector capacity-
building activities.

IOC's Capacity Building Section Head, Dr. Erlich Desa, will
continue to work with a Consultative Group on Capacity
Building to advise on criteria for establishment of
priorities and methodologies for assessment.


9. Dr. Kristina Katsaros, Chair-person of the Pan-Ocean
Remote Sensing Conference (PORSEC),also presented a
progress report on implementing the IOC's Plan for Capacity
Building in Remote Sensing in Oceanography. The Assembly
recommended that the IOC use its existing programs,
including BILKO (a UNESCO, computer-based "hands-on"
training program in coastal and marine remote sensing),in
close cooperation with regional bodies, for developing
training modules based on regional needs. Benefits from
these workshops would accrue to fisheries, coastal
management and oceanographic research.

Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS): A
strong Role for the IOC


10. The IOC has been a Participating Organization of the
Group on Earth Observations (GEO) since its inception in

2003. The Assembly reiterated its support for the goals of
GEO and called upon member states to participate fully by
becoming members of GEO and linking their observing programs
to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
Specifically, the Assembly called upon the members and
participating organizations of GEO to recognize the
observing programs of IOC, in particular the Global Ocean
Observing System (GOOS),as a crucial component of GEOSS.
The Assembly also called upon GEO to support the expansion
of capabilities for multi-hazard warning systems,
recognizing the IOC as the coordinating body for tsunami
warning systems (TWS). This resolution was supported by
Italy, Canada, Argentina, Germany, France, the United
Kingdom, Korea, Japan, Benin, Australia, Portugal, and
Venezuela. The U.S. also intervened to express strong
support for GEO and call for the recognition of GOOS as a
key part of GEOSS and the IOC as coordinator for TWS in a
multi-hazard context.

Intergovernmental Committee for the Global Ocean Observing
System (I-GOOS): New Leadership, Terms of Reference


11. The outgoing Chair of I-GOOS (Dr. Silvana Vallerga,
Italy) presented the goals and operations of I-GOOS during
the past four years. Presently, thirteen GOOS Regional
Alliances (GRAs) have been formed comprised of one hundred
and eighty-five institutions from eighty-eight Nations. A
new Chairperson has been elected for I-GOOS (France) and two
new Vice-Chairpersons (United States and China). Dr.
Vallerga noted that progress is being made with regard to
GRAs working together. Two GOOS Regional Fora have occurred
(Europe and Pacific Islands) and a third will occur in
December for Africa. The coastal module of GOOS has been
published. In response to the presentation, several
interventions were made on the regional implementation of
GOOS, noting that a strong GOOS Project Office (GPO) at IOC
is necessary for this to be accomplished; this will require
a budget commensurate with the expectations of Member
States. Several member states indicated that GOOS should be
a key element in the development of multi-hazard warning
systems. The new Chair (Francois Gerard) presented his
vision of the future of I-GOOS, noting in particular the
need - evoked by Argentina -- to work closely with the IOC
Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (ABELOS) on
the effort to clarify the legal framework for the collection
of oceanographic data.


12. The Assembly adopted Revised Terms of Reference for I-
GOOS and the GOOS Scientific Steering Committee (GSSC).
These terms of reference address fundamental issues and
should be applicable for a long period of time, regardless
of changes in oceanographic sciences and the conduct of
ocean observations. The drafting process began in March
2005 when the IOC distributed Circular Letter 2147
requesting member states comments on draft Terms of
Reference for I-GOOS, the GSSC, and the GOOS Project Office
(GPO). The GPO collated the comments received for the
Assembly. Interested nations (approximately 35)
participated in a working group to review the comments,
preparing the revised set of Terms of Reference that was
adopted by the Assembly. This revised version eliminated
many procedural items that were present in the first draft
circulated in March. In addition, the revised Terms of
Reference only address I-GOOS and the GSSC. The guidance for
the GPO was eliminated since it was agreed that the IOC
Executive Secretary should prepare the Terms of Reference
for the GPO as it is part of the Secretariat. The Terms of
Reference also include the appointment of two additional
vice-chairs for I-GOOS; it was agreed that this be done
immediately by the Chair of I-GOOS, with close attention to
balancing geographical representation.

Ocean Component of the Global Climate Observing System
(GCOS) Implementation Plan and GOOS contribution to COP-10


13. The retiring Director of GCOS presented the background
to the recently published Implementation Plan for the Global
Observing System for Climate in Support of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
noting the identification in the Plan of forty-four
"essential climate variables" that were developed from an
initial list of hundreds of variables. The Plan includes a
major satellite component along with in situ networks. The
Plan identifies 41 specific actions in the ocean chapter, 21
of which are to be implemented by JCOMM. The Plan also
includes the requirement for sustained product generation
and improved data management and describes the link to the
Global Earth Observing System of Systems. Priority areas in
the Plan, focused on the 5-10 year time-frame, include (1)
improved key satellite and in situ networks, (2) improved
global analysis networks, (3) full participation, (4) data
management including meta data. Key ocean actions are (1)
ensuring climate quality and continuity for essential ocean
satellite observations, (2) global coverage of the surface
network and (3) global coverage of the subsurface network.
Satellite agencies within countries were asked to strengthen
their efforts and coordinate their efforts. The Assembly
noted the need for global coordination and participation to
implement a program that no single or smaller group of
nations could accomplish otherwise.

WMO-IOC Joint Commission for Oceanography and Marine
Meteorology (JCOMM)


14. A brief report on JCOMM activities was made including
the status of the observing system. The observing system is
more than 50 percent complete with the global drifter
program anticipating full implementation in September of
this year. The Argo profiling float pilot project is not a
JCOMM program but is linked to JCOMM and its initial
implementation is expected to be completed by the end of

2006. The second JCOMM Assembly will take place in Halifax
in September of this year. Challenges confronting JCOMM
include (1) the sustainability of the observing system, (2)
real-time dissemination of the observations, and (3) the
synergy between JCOMM and IODE (International Oceanographic
Data and Information Exchange). Several interventions
addressed the sustainability issue, noting that many of the
systems within JCOMM remain funded through research budgets.

International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange
(IODE),A Strategic Plan


15. The IODE program recently held its 17th meeting in
Ostende, Belgium in conjunction with the opening of the new
IODE Project Office at the Flanders Marine Science
Institute. As a result of that meeting, IODE approved two
resolutions and four recommendations for action that would
improve its ability to facilitate effective data management
for all IOC programs. As part of this, IODE has proposed
the development of a Strategic Plan for Ocean Data and
Information Management. A consultant will be hired to work
with the IODE members to craft the Strategic Plan, provide a
progress report to the IOC Executive Council in 2006, and
provide a final report to the IOC Assembly in 2007. The
IOC endorsed the meeting report and the timeline for the
OD&IM plan, and will advance the program as possible within
the currant budget situation. The IODE resolution was
strongly supported by Iran, France, Kenya, Australia,
Argentina, China, Venezuela, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, Greece,
Japan, United Kingdom, Ecuador, Korea, and Canada. The US
also strongly supported the IODE program and indicated
concerns about the very tight budget being provided to this
program by the IOC and the need for other countries to
consider contributing extrabudgetary funds to enhance it.

World Climate Research Program (WCRP): U.S. Leadership
Stabilizes Budget Prospects


16. The U.S. early intervention in support of stabilizing
the IOC's continued support of the World Climate Research
Program played a key role in the Assembly's decision to
support the WCRP at a proposed level of at least 125,000
USD per year from the Regular Budget. Originally, the IOC
had proposed to support the WCRP at a 125K USD level from
both regular budget and extrabudgetary sources. Australia,
the U.K, and Canada joined the U.S. in emphasizing that a
stable commitment cannot be achieved through the proposed
budget that originally required over half of the IOC
commitment to be contingent upon unreliable extra-budgetary
funds. U.S. leadership succeeded in maintaining a
meaningful IOC, ICSU, and WMO agreement to support WCRP and
in sustaining IOC continued support even while major
portions of the IOC budget are being cut to accommodate
UNESCO's cutbacks in regular funding.

Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB):
Broad Support in Face of Cuts


17. At the conclusion of the report presented by IPHAB
Chair Beatriz Reguera, the Assembly was asked to endorse the
report of 7th Session of IPHAB, including a work plan for
the new biennium, resolutions and recommendations and a
proposed budget. As usual, member states' interventions,
particularly those of developing states, indicated strong
support of ongoing HAB activities. Many interventions,
including that of the U.S., voiced strong concern over the
proposed 40 percent cut to the IOC HAB Regular Program
budget. The Executive Secretary indicated that the Regular
Program budget is a small fraction of the total IOC HAB
budget (the majority coming from Spain and Denmark's direct
contributions) and the proposed cuts amount to only 28,000
USD for the biennium or 14,000 USD per year and will have
only a small impact on the HAB work plan. In sidebar
discussions, the IOC HAB Program Coordinator reiterated that
these funds represent some of the only uncommitted funds
available to the Secretariat to support HAB capacity
building activities and are therefore critically important
to the program.

Ocean Carbon: Assuming a New, Broader Mandate


18. Member states were asked to adopt the new terms of
reference (TOR) and a new title -- "International Ocean
Carbon Coordination Project, IOCCP" -- for the former IOC-
SCOR Advisory Panel on Ocean Carbon Dioxide. The changes
reflect a broadening of the panel's remit to include carbon
compounds other than carbon dioxide and the panel's decision
to provide international coordination of scientific
activities, rather than just provide advice to the
scientific community. The Assembly expressed broad support
for changing the Terms of Reference and title. There was
also strong support and appreciation expressed for the
leadership of the IOC Ocean Carbon Program manager, Dr.
Maria Hood, whose position is supported by the U.S.
(National Science Foundation).

Census of Marine Life (CoML): In Search of Synergies


19. The Census of Marine Life is an international research
program that is being supported by the Alfred P. Sloan
Foundation in the U.S. as well as by funding agencies from
around the world for its first phase in 2000-2010. The IOC
Executive Council expressed support for the program at its
meeting in 2000. During the Assembly, Australia submitted a
resolution that instructed the Executive Secretary to
examine the potential for links between the primary elements
of CoML and the IOC Main Lines of Action and to ensure
coordination between the IOC International Oceanographic
Data and Information Exchange (IODE) program and the CoML
Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). The
resolution also requested IOC member states to encourage
participation by their scientists in the program. This
resolution was strongly supported by Canada, Chile, Belgium,
Japan, Portugal, Venezuela, Cuba, Kuwait, Nigeria, Sri
Lanka, and Brazil. USDEL also expressed strong support for
this initiative: the U.S. funds aspects of various CoML
projects; hosts several of the program's coordinating
offices, including the International Secretariat; and has a
number of scientific institutions involved in the program.

Ocean Science Section Overview


20. The Head of the Ocean Science Section, Dr. Umit
Unluata, briefly introduced this item, without offering the
anticipated report on accomplishments for the biennium. IOC
Chairman Pugh indicated that the activities and results of
the Ocean Science Section are well known and documented in
the Action Paper and as such introduction and debate were
unnecessary. This elicited response from Portugal and
Australia, who expressed some concern with the direction of
the Section's activities and, in particular, a lack of
progress on convening the Scientific Advisory Group for the
Section as called for in the report of the 22nd Assembly in

2003. The Executive Secretary indicated that the group has
been contacted and agreed to serve, and that a meeting will
be held in October 2005. The U.S. welcomes the participation
of the Group; it has three U.S. members: Dr. Andy Rosenberg
(U. of New Hampshire),Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain (University
of Delaware),and Dr. Michael Reeve (NSF).

Concept Paper on Modalities of Implementation of IOC
Programs in Regions: Improved Coordination Required


21. Dr. Mario Ruivo (Portugal),IOC Vice-Chairman for
Regional Affairs, organized an intersessional effort to
develop a concept paper on IOC programs in regions that the
Assembly was asked to endorse. The paper is relatively short
on detailed recommendations and inadequate to serve as the
basis for the reform and revitalization of the IOC Regional
bodies. One of its major recommendations was to create an
open-ended intersessional working group to develop detailed
recommendations. During a meeting of a working group on this
topic that took place during the Assembly, U.S. delegates
endorsed this recommendation, but also suggested that
certain steps with no budgetary implications could be taken
immediately to improve the effectiveness of the regional
bodies. These include improved communications between member
states within regions and with the Secretariat, increased
coordination with other regional and sub-regional
organizations (e.g., ASEAN, CARICOM, SOPAC),and resource
sharing between oceanographic institutions. This
recommendation was accepted and included in a resolution.

Advisory Body of Experts on Law of the Sea (ABELOS)


22. ABELOS, created as a working group to explore the
convergences of the Law of the Sea with the scientific
initiatives of the IOC, presented the results of five years
of consultations. These included: the publication of
Guidelines for the Transfer of Marine Technology (which was
referenced both in resolutions and the final text of the
report to ensure its use by Member States); the Protocol for
IOC Implementation of LOS Article 247; and the Analysis of
the Practices of Member States with Respect to LOS Parts
XIII (Marine Scientific Research) and XIV (Transfer of
Marine Technology); and the state of deliberations regarding
the legal framework for the collection of oceanographic
data. The last of these is unfinished and quite
controversial, thus considered by the majority of IOC Member
States the most crucial discussion yet considered by the
working group. ABELOS will meet in the spring of 2006 in
Malaga, Spain; the U.S. will need to generate a collation of
like-minded partners prior to this event.

2006-2007 Biennium Budget: Secretariat's Draft Rejected in
Favor of Interim Placeholder


23. The UNESCO Director-General's budget proposal -- likely
be accepted by the UNESCO General Conference in October 2005
-- calls for decreasing the regular budget allocation to the
IOC by approximately 900K USD for 2006-2007. In response to
this decrease, the IOC Secretariat presented a draft budget
that, lacking clear rationale, was not accepted by the
Assembly. The Assembly did endorse a revised budget created
after careful consideration by the Financial Committee
(guided strongly by the U.S.) that applied a uniform cut
(approximately 26 percent) to all IOC programs as an interim
measure. Chair of the Financial Committee Capt. Javier
Valladares (Argentina) will host a virtual intersessional
committee to explore future scenarios for the organization
that could be used to establish priorities for medium and
long-term plans, predicated - as suggested by the USDEL - on
IOC mission priorities and a consistent set of program
performance metrics.


24. (Note: The IOC budget cuts were precipitated by the
adoption by the UNESCO Executive Board of a resolution
recommending that the overall UNESCO budget remain level at
$610 million for the 2006-2007 biennium. End Note)

Elections: U.S. Re-elected to IOC Executive Board


25. The Assembly elected a chair, five vice-chairs (one per
electoral group) and members of the Executive Council for
the 24th session of the Assembly. All nominees were elected
by acclamation, except for Group IV Council nominees; 9
countries presented candidacies for 8 positions, thus
necessitating a vote by secret ballot in plenary.

Chair - David Pugh (UK)
Vice-Chairs: Mario Ruivo (Portugal),Alexander Frolov
(Russia),C. de N. Javier A. Valladares (Argentina),Neville
Smith (Australia),and Alfonse Dubi (Tanzania).
Group I (Western Europe & North America) - The U.S. was
elected by acclamation, along with Belgium, Germany, Norway,
Canada, Greece, Turkey, France, and Italy.
Group II (Eastern Europe & Russia) - The Ukraine was newly
elected by acclamation, joining the Russian Federation.

Group III (Latin America & South America) - Brazil, Cuba,
Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico.
Uruguay originally submitted a request for a seat on G-III
but withdrew its nomination thus avoiding a vote in plenary
and clearing the way for election by acclamation of the
other Group III nominees.

Group IV - China, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia,
Thailand, Indonesia, and the Republic of Korea were elected
while Iran, which had submitted its nomination at the last
minute, was the odd man out. A total of 90 countries voted
on the Group IV seats.

Group V - Congo, Kuwait, South Africa, Egypt, Mauritius,
Tunisia, Kenya, and Nigeria. In a bit of confusion, Tunisia,
which had withdrawn it nomination for vice-chair, also noted
that it had not received its government's endorsement for a
seat on the Executive Council. Tunisia later reported that
the matter had been reconsidered and that it would accept a
seat on the Executive Council.

Oliver