The CEOS, established in 1984, is tasked with coordinating international activities related to space and Earth observation. CEOS encourages interaction, support and complementarity among Earth observation satellite systems through coordinated planning, promoting non-discriminatory data access, establishing data standards, and promoting data compatible with the relevant products, services, and applications.
Currently, CEOS has 32 members, including the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the Russian Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and 28 associate members.
In 2013, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology became an official member of the CEOS and assigned its VNSC agency as the focal contact to the CEOS.
Assuming the post of CEOS Chair in 2019, Vietnam will perform various specific tasks, including playing a central role in coordinating the current and future missions of the CEOS members; supporting the Group on Earth Observations (GEO); coordinating with the Chair of the CEOS Strategic Implementation Team and the CEOS Secretariat to build, connect and extend the membership, and engage in CEOS activities.
Vietnam will also coordinate other support activities with the GEO, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the global observation of the Earth's atmosphere, ocean and land, and with the G8/G20 countries.
According to Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, in 2019, Vietnam will propose two main initiatives, including carbon observation over forested areas, in collaboration with Earth observation to support forest monitoring and management, and agricultural observation, which is very useful in evaluating Vietnam's agricultural development and will be expanded into the Mekong delta countries.
Previously, at the CEOS 32nd Plenary in mid-October, two Vietnamese initiatives received support from the CEOS member organisations in sharing satellite data, human resource training and opportunities to participate in potential projects.
The 2019 CEOS plenary session hosted by Vietnam will be held in Hanoi from October 14 to 16 next year.
