Transfer of funds from Defra to the NCEO

Descriptions

The Group on Earth Observations, GEO, is a voluntary partnership of governments and organizations that sees "a future wherein decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations and information." GEO Member governments include 101 nations and the European Commission, and 95 Participating Organizations comprised of international bodies with a mandate in Earth observations. Together, the GEO community is leading a worldwide effort to create a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) that will link Earth observation resources world-wide across multiple Societal Benefit Areas - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability, Disaster Resilience, Energy and Mineral Resources Management, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Infrastructure & Transportation Management, Public Health Surveillance, Sustainable Urban Development, Water Resources Management - and make those resources available for better informed decision-making. Defra is the UK policy lead for GEO with technical support from NCEO and key experts from the UK science and business community. The UK lead on the GEO Programme Board is from NCEO.