Towards Global Change Solutions: Establishing A Policy Framework for Earth Observations
- Paper number
IAC-08.B1.1.9
- Author
Mr. Richard Ohlemacher, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Dana Johnson, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Global Change of our environment is a key issue for our times. One hundred years ago the planet had a population of around 2 billion people and a pace of life where we did not have to anticipate much beyond a few months into the future. With their unique vantage point in space, Earth observation satellites contribute significantly to monitoring and understanding changes to our planet, and beyond that, enhancing our ability to forecast significant weather, climate, and global change events. Now, as the world move towards a future with more than 9 billion people and an increasingly complex and dynamic Earth, it is even more important to be able to anticipate changes that are coming and impact our populations. That requires two aspects for policy attention: 1) A policy foundation for planning, developing, investing, and deploying the systems and underlying information infrastructure to inform decision-making, and 2) Current and accurate information that is collected globally, focused regionally, and useful locally to underpin policy solutions across our societies - from health policy, to economic policy, to foreign policy, to environmental policy. For the first aspect, the accomplishments of space, weather, climate, modeling, and decision support systems in understanding global change rely upon the policy foundation that enables successful application of advanced technologies to our day-to-day lives. Achieving better future capability includes recognizing the value and capacity for a policy framework that enables improvements to: * Earth observation systems planned and sustained over decades * Prototype research Earth observation systems enabling next generation operational systems * Efficiently transitioning prototype research to operational capabilities * interoperable data access * Earth Observation system data assimilated into weather, climate and hazard models * Governments efficiently commissioning Earth observation systems * Industry and the private sector innovating new technologies and solutions * Organizations coordinating and communicating advancements in science and technology * Systematically increasing capabilities while minimizing costs - "doing more with less" The second broader policy aspect relies upon the space, weather, climate, modeling, and decision support systems that assure the government has the information needed to formulate and apply policies useful to governing society, guiding and enhancing our economy, and addressing urgent needs. The world has entered a phase in history with many societal challenges, but we also have the benefit of major technological advances from the last century to strengthen and advance policymaking at the national and international levels to meet the societal needs of the 21st Century.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B1.1.9.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.