Chapter 8 Summary of International Linkages and National Activity

International Linkages and Activity > Australian Counterparts to International Sponsoring Agencies

Australian agencies and coordinating bodies counterpart to the international sponsors of the WCP are identified schematically in Figure 8.1. Also identified are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Committee on Earth Observations Satellites (CEOS) links since, while not formally sponsors of the WCP, both these bodies are substantially involved in its international implementation. Acronyms are elaborated in Appendix 1. Under the umbrella of UNDP, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is involved in implementing a number of WCP-related activities in the western Pacific and Asian regions. CEOS has a role in ensuring that satellite systems meet the needs of the WCP. Figure 8.1 also identifies the recently established Group on Earth Observations (GEO) flowing from the US-convened Earth Observations Summit of July 2003 for which lead responsibility for national coordination is provided by the Bureau of Meteorology in collaboration with the Department of the Environment and Heritage.

Figure 8.1 Australian counterpart agencies (bottom row) to the international sponsoring agencies of the WCP and related bodies. The full names of the Australian agencies are given in the text and in Appendix 1.

Principal contacts in Australia in respect of the international parent bodies of the WCP and the closely related Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)-United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CEOS and GEO are:

ICSU Prof. S Serjeantson (Executive Secretary), Australian Academy of Science (AAS)

UNESCO Prof K Wiltshire (Chairman), Australian National Commission for UNESCO. (Ms L Nassau, Secretary-General, ANC UNESCO, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT))

IOC Mr N Williams (Chairman), Heads of Commonwealth Marine Agencies (HOMA); Dr N Smith, Australian Representative to IOC and ex officio Deputy Chairman of HOMA.

WMO Dr J W Zillman, Permanent Representative of Australia with WMO, Bureau of Meteorology

FAO Mr M J Taylor, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)

UNEP Mr P Glyde, First Assistant Secretary, Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH). (Ms K Smith, UNEP Secretariat, International Multilateral Unit, DEH)

UNDP Mr J Guthrie, Program Manager UN, Multilateral Agencies and Human Rights Section, Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)

CEOS Dr D L Jupp, Head, CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications/Earth Observation Centre (COSSA/EOC)

GEO Dr M J Manton, Chief Scientist, Bureau of Meteorology