Geneva, November 4, 2015 - Hosted by the Government of Mexico, the  intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) will convene its international Plenary and Ministerial Summit on 9-13 November in Mexico City.

Against the backdrop of recent approval of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Ministers will adopt a 10-year Strategic Plan designed to bring accurate, timely data and other information to decision makers facing the unprecedented impacts on their populations of environmental change.

Established in 2005 to unleash the power of open data, GEO drives the interoperability of Earth observations from satellites, airborne, and land- and water-based monitoring systems with the aim of strengthening national and regional prediction, preparedness and prevention across a range of societal sectors.  GEO has 100 member governments, with Co-Chairs from the European Commission, China, South Africa and the United States.  

Highlights include:

• 13 November,  9 am to 10 am, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Opening Session of the Ministerial Summit followed by a photo session.
• 10 - 12 November, Hotel Hilton Reforma, An exhibition highlighting technological innovation and global, regional and national Earth observation programmes
• 9 – 12 November, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hotel Hilton Reforma, Side Events on all GEO’s communities including the environment, disasters, forest cover and more:

         - 10 Nov, 1.30 pm, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a new plan to better understand ocean-based ecological diversity in the Americas
         - 10 Nov, 9.00 am, Hilton Reforma, Earth observations for Sustainable Development
         - 10 Nov, 2.30 pm, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, A forum underscoring the significant and innovative role of the Global Agricultural Monitor in bolstering food security
         - 11 Nov, 10.45 am, Hilton Reforma, GEONETCast satellite network news announcement

Details about numerous additional events are found at:   http://bit.ly/1iAJPGu

Journalists attending GEO events are encouraged to register in advance at http://www.earthobservations.org/documents/geo_xii/geo12_press_accreditation_form.pdf. Journalists also are invited to attend two regional geospatial events for Latin America being held in conjunction with GEO Week:

• Latin America Geospatial Forum;  10 to 12 November, Hotel Hilton Reforma
• Annual meeting of the UN initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UNGGIM): Americas .

Follow us on social media: #GEOWeek15 

Contacts:
For English-language media enquiries, please contact:

Katherine Anderson
Communications Manager
Group on Earth Observations
Tel: +41 79 404 8640
Email: Email Contact

Robert J. Samors
Senior External Relations Manager
Group on Earth Observations
Tel: +41 79 257 8244
Email:    Email Contact

For Spanish-language media enquiries, please contact:

Vicente Amador 
Head of Media
Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI)
Tel: +52 55 52781064
Email: Email Contact

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is comprised of 100 Member states, including the European Commission, and 87 Participating Organizations. Established in 2005, GEO strives to improve the world’s observation systems and provide policy makers and scientists with accurate and useful data that can be used to make informed decisions on issues affecting the planet.  GEO’s primary focus is to develop a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to enhance the ability of end-users to discover and access Earth observation data and convert it to useable and useful information. GEO is headquartered in Switzerland. For more information, visit www.earthobservations.org

Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI)

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) is an autonomous agency of the Mexican Government dedicated to coordinate the National System of Statistical and Geographical Information of the Country. It was created in 1983. The institution conducts national censuses and performs statistical analysis.

For more information, visit www.inegi.org.mx