Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development (GGRF) resolution adopted by the United Nations General AssemblyThursday 26 February 2015, co-sponsored by 52 Member States
On 26 February 2015 The United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN resolution on Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development that was initiated by the Republic of Fiji. In their press release UN-GGIM writes: The science that supports the precise pinpointing of people and places should be shared more widely, according to the United Nations General Assembly as it adopted its first resolution recognizing the importance of a globally-coordinated approach to geodesy – the discipline focused on accurately measuring the shape, rotation and gravitational field of planet Earth. Geodesy plays an increasing role in people’s lives, from finding
disaster victims to finding This UN Resolution is one concrete example of an outcome from the UN GGIM, in which FIG has been active, and FIG as well as IAG are mentioned in the final Resolution: "Recognizing further the extraordinary achievements made by national mapping and space agencies, geodetic commissions, research organisations and universities, and other international organisations such as the International Federation of Surveyors, building upon initiatives of the International Association of Geodesy, representing the global geodetic community, in measuring and monitoring changes in the Earth's system on a best-effort basis, including the development of the now adopted international Terrestrial Reference Frame..." Last year at the FIG Congress 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, the work of UN GGIM was highlighted at a number of occasions and the resolution was discussed at the Pleanary sessions, in technical sessions as well as FIG facilitated a meeting, chaired by FIG Commission 5 Chair 2011-14 Mikael Lilje. The outcome from the FIG Congress was a FIG Statement where FIG expressed the importance of the resolution and urged the member organizations to bring the Statement back home to the respective countries. FIG is now pleased to note that the countries have accepted the resolution and would like to ask all member organisations to note that the work continues to realize a road map for the implementation of the Resolution. The UN-GGIM-AP/FIG Statement on Global Geodetic Reference Frame recognizes the growing need for an accurate and stable Global Geodetic Reference Frame to support, inter alia, earth observation, including sea level and climate change monitoring, natural hazard and disaster management and a wide range of other activities in public and private sectors throughout the World, contributing towards inclusive social progress, environmental sustainability and economic development. The Statement was adopted by the UN-GGIM-AP Executive Board at its meeting on 20th June during the XXV FIG Congress and urges:
The UN General Assembly resolution outlines the value of ground-based
observations and remote satellite sensing when tracking changes in
populations, ice caps, oceans and the atmosphere over time. Such geospatial
measurements can support sustainable development policymaking, climate
change monitoring and natural disaster management, and also have a wide
range of applications for transport, Emphasizing that “no one country can do this alone”, the General Assembly called for greater multilateral cooperation on geodesy, including the open sharing of geospatial data, further capacity-building. More information
Louise Friis-Hansen 03 March 2015 |
