PART ONE
REPORT OF THE SECOND MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON SPACE APPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
I. MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE COMMISSION OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION
1. The Conference acknowledged the significant progress achieved in space technology applications for sustainable development since the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held at Beijing in 1994, and the instrumental role played by ESCAP and the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (RESAP) in the realization of those achievements. The profound advances in space technology and its applications should be readily available to enhance sustainable development and to achieve rapid improvements in the quality of life in the countries of the region, in particular the least developed and other developing countries.
2. The framework of cooperation established under RESAP had provided a solid foundation upon which a new phase of activities could be built. In particular, the Conference noted that, in several countries, space technologies applications had entered the operational stage, contributing directly and significantly to their economic and social development. It expressed the hope that other countries would soon be able to operationalize their space technology applications programmes. The Conference agreed that, in order to continue promoting the operationalization of space applications in the region, the following issues needed to be addressed: human resources development; the involvement of private sector industry and academia; the strengthening of institutional frameworks and improvement of national coordination mechanisms; the establishment of appropriate regional cooperative mechanisms; and raising awareness among policy makers of the many beneficial uses of space technology applications.
3. The Conference noted with satisfaction the assurances given by the members and associate members of ESCAP that they would participate in and contribute to the cooperative activities emerging from the second phase of RESAP (RESAP II). Under the new phase, further cooperation should be encouraged through both bilateral and multilateral approaches, and therefore bilateral and multilateral funding and development agencies were urged to provide the necessary financial support to facilitate implementation of the activities.
4. The Conference also noted with satisfaction the offers of assistance from several countries to implement RESAP II and directed the secretariat to follow up on those offers so that the other countries of the region could benefit from such assistance.
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5. Recognizing the uneven development of space technology applications among the countries of the region, the Conference recommended that regional cooperative mechanisms should be institutionalized to facilitate equitable sharing of the benefits of space technology development and applications by all countries in the region. Furthermore, the Conference called for increased harmonization of regional initiatives in space technology development and applications. The Conference agreed that the least developed countries, in particular, should be encouraged and provided with the opportunities to share the benefits from space technology applications.
6. The Conference noted with interest the numerous activities of the other bodies and specialized agencies of the United Nations and of other intergovernmental organizations in the application of space technology. Those organizations should continue to strive to coordinate their activities and work more synergistically to avoid unnecessary duplication and enhance the impact of their efforts. ESCAP was called upon to enhance collaboration with those agencies in the development and implementation of future activities under RESAP II.
7. The Conference noted that the issues related to satellite data archives, their access and utilization and related data policy and commercialization aspects still needed to be addressed in a concerted manner. Data generated from the multitude of satellites in space should be made easily accessible at affordable cost to all countries for various applications in their development activities. The Conference stressed the urgency of operationalizing the provision of real-time data free of charge to all countries as soon as they faced a pending natural disaster.
8. The Conference endorsed the Strategy and Action Plan on Space Technology Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific for the New Millennium, which was expected to serve as the overall framework for the implementation of RESAP II. The Conference recommended that RESAP II should identify a structured Minimum Common Programme focusing on the minimum core requirements of the countries of the region, including environmental and natural resources management; food security and agricultural systems; capacity-building; human resources development and education; poverty alleviation; natural disaster reduction; health care and hygiene; and sustainable development planning. The ESCAP secretariat should immediately initiate the necessary activities to formulate a programme of work to translate the recommendations of the Conference into action and facilitate the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan.
9. The Conference adopted the Ministerial Declaration submitted by the Senior Officials Meeting and decided henceforth to call it the "Delhi Declaration on Space Technology Applications in Asia and the Pacific for Improved Quality of Life in the New Millennium".
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II. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE
A. Policies and perspectives on space technology development and applications, and status of preparedness of the region to meet challenges and opportunities in the twenty-first century
10. Under this agenda item, the Executive Secretary of ESCAP delivered a statement which highlighted the main policies and perspectives on space technology development and applications, and focused on the issues that needed to be called to the attention of and be deliberated on by the Ministerial Conference. He pointed out that the outcome of the Conference would generate a handbook, an Agenda 21 for space applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. It would serve as a blueprint for RESAP II.
11. The Executive Secretary pointed out that space technology was still considered a cutting-edge technology in many countries of the region and that, for various reasons, the benefits of space technology for sustainable development had still not been fully harnessed in the region. In that regard, the Executive Secretary emphasized the need to level the playing field to enable a greater number of developing countries to keep pace with technological developments that would allow them to gain the optimum benefits.
12. The presence of a "critical mass" of trained personnel, the Executive Secretary stated, was one of the elements necessary for realizing the full benefits of space technology in the region. He voiced the expectation that the Conference would provide the policy guidelines necessary to address the need for sustained pooling of manpower and resources for space technology applications in the region.
13. The Executive Secretary remarked that any programme on space technology applications should place strong emphasis on raising the awareness of policy planners and decision makers and should involve all sectors at all levels of decision-making. He therefore stressed the importance of multilateral partnerships between the government, private sector industry and the academic sector, as well as the urgency of bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the countries of the region in the area of space applications and development. The launching of RESAP II would be a watershed in the establishment of a meaningful, cooperative, self-sustaining mechanism, based on firm commitments by the countries of the region to integrate space technology applications operationally with development planning.
14. The Conference was briefed by the heads of the delegations on the various activities taking place under their respective national space programmes, any current problems and constraints that they were facing, and their priorities for the future. The Conference noted with satisfaction that, since the launch of RESAP, very significant achievements had been attained at regional and national levels. In particular, it recognized the inspirational role of the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific and RESAP in promoting collaboration and cooperation in space technology among the countries of the region. Special thanks were offered to the Government of China for having hosted that historic event in 1994.
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15. The achievements realized during the last five years in various sectors of space applications had built up the technological foundation for coping with contemporary problems relating to the destruction of the environment and the promotion of the welfare of the people.
16. Regional cooperation contributed significantly towards nurturing the general development of the region. The Conference reiterated its conviction that such cooperation should be further strengthened in the coming years. Recognizing that the Ministerial Conference was the first regional meeting held after the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held in 1999, the importance of the Conference was underscored in that it was able to consolidate, coordinate and synergize its recommendations with those of the conclusions and recommendations of that global event. In particular, it noted the importance of "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development" and its annexed action plans as a framework for cooperation.
17. A number of major constraints still faced countries, particularly those with limited financial and human resources. The Conference stressed that more training was required in the various fields of space technology applications and called for regional seminars and training programmes to be conducted as frequently as possible. The Conference also acknowledged the usefulness of the joint research and development projects, both bilateral and multilateral, which had been initiated with the assistance of ESCAP, and suggested that joint ventures, such as the development of small satellites, be conducted, especially involving the least developed countries. Joint research initiatives could help to address common problems which transcended political boundaries.
18. The costs of developing technology and investing in infrastructure for space applications were high, underscoring the need to make RESAP II practical and effective in order to benefit the space technology development of the countries in the region. One delegation suggested that developed countries should allocate some of their past profits from commercial space activities to RESAP II, and that information on space technology applications which they had collected should be offered to developing countries at low cost or free. The Conference stressed that consideration should be given to additional financial and technical support for national capacity-building in the least developed and developing countries in the region.
19. The Conference noted with appreciation the willingness of some countries to commit resources and to carry out activities at the national level in support of RESAP II. In particular, it acknowledged the contributions being made by countries and new offers made to enhance human resources development through training and education; capacity-building through data provision; participation in regional projects and sharing of facilities; and regional cooperation through the provision of experts.
20. Closer collaboration with and involvement of the other major partners in space technology applications, namely the private sector, user organizations, academia and international organizations, were important. Several delegations mentioned their plans to expand joint programmes and collaboration between their government agencies and industry on the basis of mutual interests and benefits. In every country there was a need to raise the awareness of the public and the decision makers so that they could fully comprehend the application and use of space technology.
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21. There was a need to link regional initiatives with existing organizations, entities and infrastructure to ensure the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Conference. Some countries of the region had benefited from their involvement with earlier regional initiatives. It was hoped that the recommendations of the Conference would promote greater coordination and harmonization of regional activities, including an increase in industrial activities, to help to accelerate the spread of practical benefits to be derived from space technology applications.
22. The Conference noted with interest the numerous activities of the other bodies and specialized agencies of the United Nations and of other intergovernmental organizations in the application of space technology in the areas of food security and sustainable agricultural development, weather forecasting, environmental monitoring and hazard mitigation, distance education, and overall human development. Those agencies and international organizations were ready to enhance regional cooperation through the framework of RESAP. In that regard, the Conference recognized the opportunities for ESCAP to collaborate with those agencies in the development and implementation of future activities through RESAP II.
23. The Conference expressed its thanks to ESCAP for providing a forum under RESAP to create a programme to determine the needs and problems of the countries in the region, and an action plan to address them. It commended the secretariat for its efforts in preparing the Conference, and acknowledged the contributions of members and associate members in the preparatory activities for the Conference. It noted that by providing strong support for the Space Technology Applications Section and its activities, awareness of the importance of space applications among members and associate members of ESCAP could be further enhanced.
24. Cognizant of the contributions of RESAP during its first phase in assisting countries in the Asian and Pacific region to raise awareness of space technology applications and build national capacity, the Conference recommended the launch of RESAP II. The Conference expressed its strong support for RESAP II and noted the willingness of all countries to participate in its activities.
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B. Report of the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Conference
25. The Chairperson of the Senior Officials Meeting, which had been held from 15 to 17 November 1999 in preparation for the ministerial meeting, presented the report of the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Conference (E/ESCAP/ENR/MCSA(2)/1), and the draft strategy and action plan on space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific for the new millennium (E/ESCAP/ENR/MCSA(2)/2), which had been reviewed by the Senior Officials. The report of the Senior Officials Meeting contained the conclusions and recommendations arising from the review of and deliberations on the following secretariat documents:
(a) Status of implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/1);
(b) Space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific: issues (E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/2);
(c) Space vision 21: the future of space technology development and applications in Asia and the Pacific (E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/3);
(d) Strategy and action plan on space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific for the new millennium (E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/4).
26. The Conference expressed appreciation of the excellent work undertaken by the Senior Officials in making a careful review and comprehensive assessment of the documents and adopted the report of the Senior Officials Meeting.
27. The Conference then reviewed the draft strategy and action plan and adopted it, with a minor amendment, thereby launching RESAP II. The amended Strategy and Action Plan are included in the present report.
C. Ministerial declaration on space technology applications for improved quality of life in the new millennium
28. The Conference deliberated on the draft ministerial declaration (E/ESCAP/ENR/MCSA(2)/3), which had been carefully reviewed and endorsed at the Senior Officials Meeting earlier and submitted for the consideration of the Conference. The Conference adopted the Ministerial Declaration as presented, and decided to name it the "Delhi Declaration on Space Technology Applications in Asia and the Pacific for Improved Quality of Life in the New Millennium".
29. The Ministerial Declaration is included the present report.
D. Other matters
30. The Conference thanked the organizers of the ESCAP/ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) Science Symposium on the theme "Space Technology for Improving Quality of Life in Developing Countries: A Perspective for the Next Millennium". Nearly 200 participants from 25 countries and six intergovernmental organizations had attended the Symposium. A total of six lead talks and 26 case-study presentations by eminent experts from different countries had focused on food security, environmental integrity, disaster management, education, rural development and health care, and infrastructure for space applications. A panel of experts and participants had interacted in the discussions and identified specific actions required at the regional and national levels to further develop techniques and solutions for the use of space technology in support of national development and improvement in the overall quality of life in society.
31. The Conference also thanked the organizers of the technical exhibition Space '99, which had been organized as a side event of the Ministerial Conference. Twenty-one exhibitors from the private and government sectors of nine countries had exhibited their products and services at the exhibition. The focus of the exhibition had been on the achievements and products of direct relevance to the Asian and Pacific region. Specific among the exhibits were space technology material, innovative space technologies, launch vehicle technologies, professional societies and bodies, mobile satellite communication, Earth observation imaging services, space flight market products, reliability and testing equipment, ground systems and technologies, Earth observation and geographic information systems (GIS) value-added services, direct-to-home technologies and many other kinds of equipment and services. Participants in the Conference and many other experts took the opportunity to interact with the exhibitors and obtain detailed information on the products and services.
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32. The Conference noted with interest the proceedings of the round table meeting on major natural hazards, organized jointly by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) of France and ISRO as a side event to the Conference. The European Space Agency (ESA), the Indian Institute of Technology, the Remote Sensing Technology Centre of Japan, the National Remote Sensing Agency of India, CNES and Spot Image (France) had made some very interesting presentations on the current and potential uses of satellite data for the management of major natural hazards and their consequences. Representatives of CNES and ESA had informed participants about the intention of their organizations to establish a space system operators' charter to promote efficient support for disaster management by bringing together various space agencies to facilitate the use of satellite data right at the onset of a natural disaster. That initiative had been announced at the UNISPACE III Conference in Vienna. The charter would be open to all space agencies and satellite operators interested in participating in its activities. During the round table meeting, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) had made a very interesting and useful presentation on its disaster management support project.
33. The Conference expressed its gratitude to the Honourable Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India, for opening the Conference and delivering an inspiring inaugural address, which had set the tone for the deliberations in the Conference. The Conference also expressed its thanks to His Excellency Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister, Human Resources Development and Science and Technology, Government of India, for his opening statement. The Conference expressed its appreciation to His Excellency Mr Murasoli Maran, Minister of Commerce and Industries, Government of India, for his strong support in the organization of the Conference.
34. The Conference commended the Chairperson, His Excellency Mr Murli Manohar Joshi and the members of the Bureau for their able leadership in conducting the Conference and bringing it to a successful conclusion.
35. The Conference also expressed appreciation to the Honorary Chairman and Chairman of the National Organizing Committee, as well as the other officials of ISRO and different ministries who had served as committee members, for their dedicated work and valuable support for holding the Conference in New Delhi.
36. The Conference thanked the Chairperson of the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Conference, K. Kasturirangan, Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, the members of the Bureau, and all other senior officials whose effective steward-ship and hard work had ensured smooth preparations for the Ministerial Conference.
37. The Conference gratefully acknowledged the financial support provided by the Government of the Netherlands in the preparatory activities of the Conference. It also expressed its appreciation to the governments of Australia, China, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United States of America for their support in various ways in the preparations for the Conference. The Conference also thanked the members of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee and the regional working groups, who had reviewed the background documents for the Senior Officials Meeting. The Conference noted with appreciation the support provided by the United Nations Development Programme and the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology in the organization of the Conference.
38. The Conference expressed its profound gratitude to the Government and people of India for providing generous financial support and excellent facilities as hosts of the Conference and for the warm hospitality extended to all the participants.
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III. ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING
39. The Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific was held at New Delhi from 18 to 20 November 1999. The Conference was preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Conference from 15 to 17 November.
A. Attendance
40. The Conference was attended by representatives of the following members and associate members of ESCAP: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States of America and Viet Nam.
41. Representatives of the following United Nations bodies and specialized agencies attended: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, United Nations Population Fund, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and World Meteorological Organization.
42. Representatives of the following intergovernmental organizations also attended: Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, European Space Agency and International Organization of Space Communications.
43. Representatives of the following non-governmental organizations and other entities also attended: International Astronautical Federation and the International Council of Scientific Unions/Committee on Space Research.
44. A number of space planners, scientists, academics and entrepreneurs participating in the ESCAP/ISRO Science Symposium and the technical exhibition Space '99, both held in conjunction with the Ministerial Conference and the Senior Officials Meeting, attended as observers.
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B.Opening of the Conference
45. The Honourable Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India, opened the Conference. In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister welcomed the participants to the Conference on behalf of the Government of India.
46. The Prime Minister observed that, as the human race stood at the threshold of a new millennium, it had fulfilled what had been a dream of the past: to extend its reach to space. That endeavour was a collective journey and not one of any single country or group of countries. The Prime Minister stressed that regional cooperation, as part of the wider context of global cooperation, lay at the heart of the exploration of space.
47. The Prime Minister noted that the countries of Asia and the Pacific shared many challenges to sustainable development, especially in the areas of food security, water conservation, environment protection, disaster management, education and health care. There was an urgent need to refocus the collective attention of the countries in the region, as well as that of the world, to achieve improved quality of life for the population of the region, which represented about 60 per cent of the global population. Observing that space technology was already meeting several developmental needs, the Prime Minister gave examples of many areas where space technology could be further harnessed.
48. The Prime Minister mentioned that India had made considerable achievements in space research and applications. Over the years, it had contributed very significantly to RESAP, which had been launched at the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held at Beijing five years previously, and was willing to contribute further. He expressed India's willingness to share experience and expertise with the countries in the region and to work jointly towards achieving a sustainable living for all peoples in the region through both bilateral and multilateral arrangements.
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49. The Prime Minister stressed the need to develop space applications for global peace and security. He noted that space must become the newest frontier, not for an arms race but for humankind's collaborative and common race for development. He expressed the hope that the region would set an example to the world in the use of space applications for sustainable development and that the Conference would produce a practical strategy to realize that vision.
50. In his welcoming address, His Excellency Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister, Human Resources Development and Science and Technology, Government of India, welcomed the participants. He was glad to note that during the ESCAP/ISRO Science Symposium and other meetings preceding the Conference a number of detailed discussions on the practical applications of space science and technology, as well as several other important issues, had taken place. He drew the attention of the Conference in particular to the need for cooperation to address the important task of mitigating natural disasters in the region, of which the recent cyclone in the state of Orissa, India, was a sad example.
51. The Minister informed the Conference of his country's intention to conduct major studies to create a long-term vision for space exploration and applications over the next few decades and to take further action based on those studies. He invited the participation of other countries, particularly ESCAP members and associate members, in those studies and actions.
52. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his message to the Conference, stated that space technology and its applications were providing new tools to address the problems of society and the environment and were likely to have many more exciting new uses that were still to be discovered. He noted that, in the Asian and Pacific region, the use of satellites had reduced the isolation of distant islands and villages and made remote areas more accessible. The Conference provided an opportunity for the countries of the region to unite behind a common cause: developing new ways to use space to improve conditions on Earth.
53. The Secretary-General expressed his confidence that the participants in the Conference would move towards ever greater collaboration in space activities and that the deliberations would provide a framework for concrete strategies and a plan of action for continuing the cooperation achieved through RESAP thus far. He offered the continued support of the United Nations in that endeavour.
54. The Executive Secretary of ESCAP, in his opening statement, expressed his profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to the Prime Minister of India for inaugurating the Conference and to the Government of India for its generosity as host of the Conference. He also extended his deep gratitude to K. Kasturirangan, Chairman, Department of Space, and George Joseph, eminent scientist, who served as Honorary Chairman and Chairman of the National Organizing Committee respectively, as well as the other officials of ISRO and various ministries who served as members of the Committee. The Executive Secretary also conveyed his thanks to the Government of India for the generous financial support that it had provided for the organization of the Conference, as well as for supporting the participation of ministers and senior officials from several least developed and developing countries as honoured guests of the Government of India.
55. The Executive Secretary also thanked the Government of the Netherlands for the financial support that it had provided, which had greatly facilitated the preparatory activities for the Conference. He further extended his thanks to China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea for their inputs to the background documents; the members of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee and the regional working groups for their support and assistance; and to the governments of China and the Philippines for the secondment of experts and to the governments of Australia, India, Pakistan and the United States for providing experts for the preparation of the Conference.
56. The Executive Secretary observed that the first Ministerial Conference had paved the way for promoting space science and technology development and applications in the region through RESAP. Since the launching of RESAP, inspiring developments had contributed to greater awareness and use of space technology among both developed and developing countries of the region. He informed the Conference that the Commission, at its fifty-third session held at Bangkok in April 1997, had expressed satisfaction that the outcome of the first Ministerial Conference was being translated into concrete action at the national and regional levels. He noted, however, that a major challenge remained to ensure equitable access to space technology development and applications so that all countries in the region could benefit when addressing societal and environmental problems.
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57. The Executive Secretary noted that, at the global level, UNISPACE III, held at Vienna in 1999, had heralded the need for enhancing international cooperation in promoting more effective means of using space-based data in addressing practical problems and environmental issues of local, regional and global significance. He expressed his hope that the Conference would be able to translate that universal goal into the regional context to reflect the aspirations of the countries of the region.
58. The Executive Secretary stated that, with the support of its members and associate members, ESCAP had been able to organize and coordinate numerous projects and activities under RESAP. He assured participants that ESCAP would continue to play a catalytic role to accommodate the recommendations of the Conference under the new phase of RESAP. He expressed his confidence that the collective wisdom of the Conference would provide the framework for the next phase, enabling the countries in the region to share the benefits from space technologies more equitably.
59. K. Kasturirangan, Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, delivered a vote of thanks to the Prime Minister of India, the Minister for Human Resources Development and Science and Technology, the Executive Secretary of ESCAP, the Ministers, the senior officials who attended the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Conference; the various members of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee and the regional working groups, and the participants in the Science Symposium and the technical exhibition Space '99.
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C. Election of officers
60. The Conference elected His Excellency Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resources Development and Science and Technology, Government of India, Chairperson.
61. The following were elected Vice-Chairpersons: H.E. Lt Gen Muhammad Noor Uddin Khan, P.S.C. (Rtd.), Minister for Science and Technology, Bangladesh; H.E. Dasho Nado Rinchen, Deputy Minister, National Environment Commission, Bhutan; H.E. Mr Lar Narath, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Cambodia; H.E. Mr Hui Yongzheng, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, China; H.E. Mr Ri Kwang Ho, Minister, Academy of Sciences, Democratic People's Republic of Korea; H.E. Mr Claude Allegre, Minister of National Education, Research and Technology, France; H.E. Mr Muhammad A.S. Hikam, Minister of State for Research and Technology, Indonesia; H.E. Mr Mehdi Tabeshian, Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone, Islamic Republic of Iran; H.E. Mr Souli Nanthavong, Minister to Prime Minister's Office, Science, Technology and Environment Organization, Lao People's Democratic Republic; H.E. Mr Chan Nyein, Director-General, Ministry of Science and Technology, Myanmar; H.E. Mr Surendra Prasad Choudhary, State Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nepal; H.E. Mr Batty Weerakoon, Minister of Science and Technology, Sri Lanka; H.E. Mr Arthit Ourairat, Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Thailand; and H.E. Mr Dang Vu Minh, Director General, National Centre for National Science and Technology of Viet Nam.
62. His Excellency Mr H. Harijono Djojodihardjo, Chairman, LAPAN/Indonesian National Institute for Aeronautics and Space, was elected Rapporteur.
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D. Adoption of the agenda
63. The following agenda was adopted for the Conference:
1. Opening of the Conference.
2. Election of officers.
3. Adoption of the agenda.
4. Policies and perspectives on space technology development and applications, and status of preparedness of the region to meet challenges and opportunities in the twenty-first century.
5. Report of the Senior Officials Meeting preparatory to the Ministerial Conference:
(a) Status of implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development;
(b) Issues concerning space technology applications for sustainable development;
(c) Strategy and action plan on space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific;
(d) Space vision 21: the future of space technology development and applications in Asia and the Pacific.
6. Ministerial declaration on space technology applications for improved quality of life in the new millennium.
7. Other matters.
8. Adoption of the report.
E. Adoption of the report
64. The Conference adopted its report on 20 November 1999.
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PART TWO: ANNEXES TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS PREPARATORY TO THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
I. MATTERS CALLING FOR ACTION BY THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OR BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION
1. The Meeting observed the significant progress that had been achieved in the field of space applications for sustainable development since the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Beijing in 1994. The Meeting observed that ESCAP and the three-tiered network established under the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (RESAP), which was launched by the first Ministerial Conference, have been instrumental in this regard, and recommended that the next phase of regional cooperation in space technology applications and development should build upon the foundation established by RESAP, and that ESCAP should be provided with the mandate to continue to promote regional cooperation in space technology development and applications in the Asian and Pacific region.
2. The Meeting noted that the progress thus far had been made possible by the warm spirit of cooperation that had developed between countries. In this regard, the Meeting expressed its deep appreciation to the generous support extended by both developed and developing countries to RESAP, as well as by multilateral funding agencies and the United Nations.
3. The Meeting agreed that to continue promoting operationalization of space applications in the region and sustaining the momentum, the following issues need to be addressed: human resources development; involvement of private sector industry and academia; strengthening of institutional frameworks and improvement of national coordination mechanisms; the establishment of an appropriate regional cooperative mechanism; and further raising of awareness of policy makers of the many beneficial uses of space technology applications.
4. The Meeting endorsed and adopted the Strategy and Action Plan, which would launch the next phase of RESAP, or RESAP II. RESAP II would, inter alia, identify a more structured Minimum Common Programme focusing on the minimum core requirements of the countries of the region. The Meeting recommended that these include environmental and natural resource management; food security and agricultural systems; human resources development and education; poverty alleviation; weather forecasting; natural disaster reduction; health care and hygiene; and sustainable development planning. In this regard the Meeting also urged the governments to recognize the increasing role that satellite communication could play in addressing the requirements of remote rural areas.
5. Under RESAP II, the Meeting also recommended that the three-tiered network of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee, four regional working groups, and the Regional Information Service and Education and Training Network be strengthened and expanded. In this regard, closer partnerships among governmental, academic and industrial sectors should be developed. Furthermore, the Meeting called for increased harmonization of regional initiatives in space technology applications and development. In particular, the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations should strive to effectively coordinate their activities and work more closely together to avoid duplication and enhance the impact of their efforts.
6. The Meeting observed that the coming years would see more advanced satellite instruments being launched for the study of the global ecology and environment and that optimal integration of these observations would require careful planning by national and international organizations to derive greater benefits from both the current and the planned observation systems and to address common problems of concern. The Meeting recommended that the countries of the region take note of this evolving strategy and adopt a common vision to derive maximum benefits for sustainable development in the region. In this regard, the Meeting drew the attention of the countries to the fact that integrating space technology inputs into development planning called for conscious efforts and the adoption of an appropriate policy framework in the countries.
7. Also, noting that rapid technological developments which were taking place globally would bring increasing practical applications of space and information technologies of direct relevance to sustainable development, the Meeting recommended that implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan should take advantage of these. In addition, it should take into account the integration of space technology with other frontier technologies. Moreover, recognizing the uneven development of space technology applications among countries of the region, the Meeting recommended that regional cooperative mechanisms be institutionalized to facilitate equitable sharing of the benefits of space technology development and applications by all countries in the region.
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8. In line with the Strategy and Action Plan, the Meeting recommended that at the national level, national space agencies and national coordination mechanisms should be established and/or strengthened, closer partnerships between government and private sector should be achieved, and greater use of the media for promotion of national activities relating to space technology applications should be realized.
9. The Meeting noted the issues related to satellite data archives, their access and utilization and related data policy and commercialization aspects, which still needed to be addressed in a concerted manner. The Meeting recommended that data generated on a real-time basis from the multitude of satellites in space should be made easily accessible and available free of charge to all countries as soon as they faced a pending natural disaster.
10. The Meeting expressed its strong hope that members and associate members, intergovernmental organizations and various funding agencies would actively support the implementation of the second phase of RESAP.
11. The Meeting recommended that the Ministerial Conference consider favourably the Strategy and Action Plan and the draft Ministerial Declaration.
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II. PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING
A. Review of the progress of implementation of the Beijing Declaration on Space Technology Applications for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, including the implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development, at both national and regional levels
(Item 4 of the agenda)
12. The Meeting had before it document E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/1, which contained an overall assessment of the progress of implementation of the Beijing Declaration on Space Technology Applications for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, including the implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development, or RESAP. The document described the current state of space technology development and applications, at regional and national levels and reviewed the various organizational, technical and managerial measures that had been carried out under RESAP. The Meeting expressed its general agreement with the contents of the document
.
13. The Meeting observed that remarkable progress had been achieved in the five years since RESAP was launched. Compared to the situation in 1994, many more countries in the region had established new space initiatives or had strengthened their existing activities. Moreover, the activities were becoming increasingly focused on the real needs of the countries. In particular, it was notable that many countries had established their own national space coordination committees to help raise the profile of space technology applications and to coordinate the activities of relevant government bodies. Other countries that had previously focused on research and education were now capable to move towards the operational aspects of space technology applications.
14. The Meeting noted that RESAP had demonstrated the benefits of regional cooperation and its critical importance in ensuring the peaceful utilization of space. Many countries expressed that through their participation in RESAP, through the vast potentials offered by space technologies, some of their developmental goals had also been realized. Several delegates thanked ESCAP for its catalytic role in initiating cooperative mechanisms through the first Ministerial Conference, as well as the various activities it organized over the past five years under RESAP.
15. The Meeting recognized the invaluable contributions made by several countries in the implementation of RESAP. A good example of the collaborative efforts in the implementation of RESAP was the hosting of the meetings of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee (ICC) and the regional working groups by various countries. Since the first Ministerial Conference, the three-tiered network of the ICC, the regional working groups, and the Regional Information Service and Education and Training Network had been firmly established. In addition, a dialogue forum for the harmonization of regional initiatives relating to space technology applications development had begun meeting to enhance the coordination of various regional initiatives and avoid duplication of efforts.
16. Several delegations described specific activities taking place in their countries. Some countries were conducting bilateral cooperative projects with other countries both within and outside the region. In various countries, academic institutions now offered degrees and courses in different space technology application fields, which was helping to build up the core expertise in these countries. Furthermore, at the national level a number of govern- ment and private sector activities had been jointly initiated, most prominently in the fields of satellite telecommunications, satellite meteorology, remote sensing and geoinformatics.
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17. Several delegations expressed their thanks to the countries that had held regional training courses in various fields of space technology applications, such as those organized by the governments of China, India and Indonesia. These training courses had indeed contributed to the human resources development and national capacity building in these fields as participants put their newly acquired skills to practice upon returning to their own countries.
18. A number of countries also mentioned that they were increasing efforts to improve the preparedness and mitigation systems on natural disasters by the use of space technology, which had affected many countries of the region more acutely over the recent years than in the past. The Meeting recommended that the data generated on a real-time basis from the multitude of satellites in space should be made easily accessible and available free of charge to all countries as soon as they faced a pending natural disaster.
19. Several countries expressed their keen interest in continuing their participation in the various activities and meetings under RESAP, but noted that since participation in the meetings of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee and the four regional working groups had become self-funded as part of the move towards self-sustainability, it might be difficult for them to participate as actively as in the past. The Meeting expressed its hope that a way to resolve this issue and to facilitate the participation of all interested countries could be found by securing the required funds. The Meeting also expressed its hope that collaboration between ESCAP and other United Nations bodies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), would continue in the future.
20. The Meeting expressed its clear and strong support for further collaboration in the activities on space technology applications, and expressed its optimism that the continuation of the regional programme through RESAP II, in line with the Strategy and Action Plan, would broaden the scope of cooperation in the use of space technology towards sustainable development and thereby improve the quality of life of all peoples of the region.
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B. Space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific: issues, vision, challenges and opportunities
(Item 5 of the agenda)
21. The Meeting had before it document E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/2 on issues concerning space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific region, and document E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/3 on space vision 21: the future of space technology development and applications in Asia and the Pacific. The two documents had been reviewed in depth by the Ad-hoc High-level Expert Group Meeting preparatory to the second Ministerial Conference in conjunction with the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development, held in Bangkok from 10 to 12 June 1999.
22. The Meeting recognized that the two documents reflected well the issues of space technology development and applications in the countries of the Asian and Pacific region and agreed with the priority areas to be addressed as identified in the documents. The Meeting reiterated with satisfaction that the implementation of RESAP had contributed significantly to the enhancement of regional and national capacities for the development and application of space technology, and that the countries in the region had greatly benefited from their participation in RESAP. The Meeting agreed that the next phase of regional cooperation in space technology applications and development should be built upon the strong foundation established by RESAP.
23. The Meeting noted that the major issues affecting the operational use of space technology and its applications in Asia and the Pacific included (a) a lack of full awareness of the potential of space technology among planners, administrators and policy makers, (b) an insufficient institutional framework and lack of assured financial support, (c) a lack of trained personnel and resources, (d) inadequate private sector industry and academic involvement, (e) spectrum limitation, and (f) a lack of appropriate regional institutional arrangements for pooling of resources.
24. The Meeting noted the issues related to satellite remote sensing data archives, their access and utilization, and related data policy and commercialization aspects, which still needed to be addressed in a concerted manner.
25. The Meeting recognized that in the new millennium, there would be a rapid evolution of the global information infrastructure and that there would be a need to integrate space technology applications such as satellite remote sensing, satellite communications, and satellite-based positioning with other fast-evolving information technologies.
26. The Meeting recognized that there was a need to establish a cooperative institutional mechanism between the government, the academic sector and private industries and to integrate space technology applications with other information systems, with a focus on human resources development and indigenous capability-building to bring in associated social and economic benefits to the countries of the region.
27. The Meeting agreed that the next phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development should address the priority areas of environmental and natural resource management, food security, capacity-building, human resources development and education, poverty alleviation, weather forecasting, natural disaster reduction, health care and hygiene, and sustainable development planning.
28. Some countries recommended that the next phase of RESAP should focus on assisting the countries in their technology development, in strengthening the institutional network that had been established through RESAP, in establishing the physical network for spatial information sharing and in undertaking pilot projects with the objective of promoting operationalization of space application integration with other information technologies through practical applications.
29. United Nations specialized agencies and other international organizations with space-related activities, such as APT, CEOS, COSPAR, FAO, IAF, OOSA, UNESCO and WMO, acknowledged ESCAP efforts in initiating the use of space technology to address the development needs of the region. They agreed with the issues and vision of space technology applications in Asia and the Pacific that were elaborated in the two documents and agreed to further coordinate their efforts in these fields. These agencies also suggested that ESCAP should initiate an action plan for mobilizing resources for successful implementation of the second phase of the programme.
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30. Some delegations raised the following concerns: due to the emergence of new space technology (such as channel spacing, compression techniques and others) the International Telecommunication Union should be requested to revisit the criteria of the 1997 FSS planned band, and explore more orbital positions, giving equitable access opportunities to all countries, while safeguarding at least a minimum number of orbital positions for each and every country. Some other delegations voiced a different view, commenting that the process of coordinating radio spectrum allocation was time-consuming and complex because analyses of potential interference to other services were required. Reserving a number of orbital positions could make this process even more time-consuming. Under RESAP II, the above issues should be further considered for any possible action.
31. Some delegations proposed to include additional and recent information in the documents and made such information available to the Meeting. The accordingly amended parts of the documents are provided as attachment to the report, which will be issued as a corrigendum to the respective documents after their final adoption by the Ministerial Conference.
C. Strategy and action plan on space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific and mechanism for effective regional cooperation
(Item 6 of the agenda)
32. The Meeting had before it document E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/4 on the strategy and action plan on space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific for the new millennium. The Meeting was of the view that the strategy should build on the original framework endorsed at the First Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific in 1994, which had served as the guideline for implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development.
33. The Meeting recognized that any framework for sustainable development at the national and regional levels should take an integrated approach, making effective use of frontier technologies such as space technology, biotechnology and information technology. The Meeting also recognized that the Strategy and Action Plan framework should take into account the current trends in space technology and the various issues still faced by the region. In this regard, it was suggested that factual information contained in the document be updated to reflect the changes that have transpired since the drafting of the document. Accordingly, a number of amendments to the document were formulated by the Meeting to increase its accuracy and currency.
34. The Meeting was of the opinion that at the regional level, the regional issues presented in the document adequately reflected the existing conditions in the region. It was pointed out that among the issues identified at the national level, human resources development, and research and development needed to be given more emphasis.
35. It was acknowledged that the implementation of RESAP had made a remarkable impact on the development and application of space technology in the region. However, it was also acknowledged that many of the issues identified at the first Ministerial Conference needed more time and effort to be adequately addressed and resolved. Consequently, there remained a considerable unfinished agenda that warranted actions to be taken for the wider and more effective operational utilization of space technologies in the region. In this regard, the launch of the second phase of RESAP, focusing on the minimum essential requirements of countries of the region, was considered as one of the most important action plans in this field, focusing on issues that should be addressed at the regional level.
36. The existing initiatives and facilities at the international and regional levels offered readily available systems that could support the integration of current activities in the field of space applications. As an example, the established Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific could be useful in implementation of the next phase of RESAP. The Meeting was also of the opinion that training activities should make use of the existing regional and national facilities as much as possible.
37. The Meeting acknowledged that the Ministerial Conference was the first regional meeting held after UNISPACE III and expressed confidence that the recommendations of UNISPACE III would be taken into account in the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan.
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38. The Meeting recognized that the region was experiencing a significant growth in space-related activities and also had a growing sense of self-reliance. In this regard, the Meeting was of the view that the new phase of RESAP could encompass further steps in the areas of coordination and harmonization of regional initiatives, including the increasing involvement of private sector industry in this field.
39. The Meeting took note with appreciation of the "Summary of outcomes of the sessions and action items" of the United Nations Conference on Space Applications in Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development held in Beijing in September 1999, which was circulated as document ENR/SOSA(2)/INF.1. The Meeting recognized that the recommendations of the Conference reinforced the Strategy and Action Plan as presented in the Meeting.
D. Review of the draft ministerial declaration on space technology applications for improved quality of life in the new millennium
(Item 7 of the agenda)
40. The Meeting noted that the High-level Expert Group Meeting preparatory to the Second Ministerial Conference in conjunction with the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development, held in Bangkok from 10 to 12 June 1999, had formulated a draft ministerial declaration on space technology applications for improved quality of life in the new millennium, which was circulated in the Meeting as document E/ESCAP/ENR/SOSA(2)/5.
41. The Meeting carefully reviewed the above-mentioned draft declaration and adopted it as amended, and agreed to submit it for the consideration of and adoption by the Ministerial Conference.
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II. ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING
A. Opening, duration and organization of the Meeting
42. The Senior Officials Meeting was held in New Delhi from 15 to 17 November 1999. The Meeting was in preparation for the Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, to be held in New Delhi from 18 to 20 November 1999.
43. The Meeting was opened by His Excellency Mr Murasoli Maran, Minister for Commerce and Industry of the Government of India. The Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP also made an opening statement.
44. H.E. Mr Maran, in his inaugural address, welcomed all delegates to the Meeting. He noted that a sustainable development strategy required appropriate integration of scientific and technological inputs into development processes. The potential that space technology, together with bio-technology and information technology, had for providing appropriate solutions to development problems, as envisaged in Agenda 21, was now widely recognized, and though rather late in starting, the countries of the region had achieved significant progress in terms of capacity development and investment.
45. H.E. Mr Maran pointed out that by its very nature, space technology was global and thus required closer cooperation between countries in the region. He noted that the Asian and Pacific region had amply demonstrated the possibility of regional cooperation in space applications through the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific held in Beijing in 1994 and the subsequent launching of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development. He acknowledged that the pioneering initiative taken by ESCAP to organize the first Ministerial Conference had galvanized the efforts in the region to initiate many meaningful activities in space technology development and applications.
46. H.E. Mr Maran noted that India was among the first countries in the region to utilize space technology, and its space programme had been directed towards realizing the operational applications of direct relevance to national development. He expressed India's willingness to share her experience with other countries in the region. In view of the major challenge of establishing equitable access to space technology development and applications so that benefits could be shared by all, H.E. Mr Maran called on the countries of the region to work together by pooling their limited resources.
47. H.E. Mr Maran concluded that the Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, taking place at the onset of the new millennium, had the major responsibility for defining a new vision for the region and setting appropriate goals in line with emerging technologies and increasing demands on limited resources.
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48. The Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP expressed her profound thanks to H.E. Mr Murasoli Maran for inaugurating the Meeting, and to the Government of India for hosting the Ministerial Conference and for its active support and involvement throughout the preparatory process. The Deputy Executive Secretary also noted that the Conference had been made possible by the generous assistance of various countries contributed both in financial terms and in kind, as well as by the efforts of the members of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee and the four regional working groups, who extensively reviewed the background documents.
49. The Deputy Executive Secretary noted that RESAP had made a significant impact on the countries of the region in the field of space applications. It was clear that all participating countries had achieved impressive progress in building up their national capacities in this field. While recognizing that these developments had contributed to making the region into one of the most dynamic in the area of space technology applications, the Deputy Executive Secretary noted that the benefits from the applications of space technology were still far from being fully reaped in many countries of the region.
50. The Deputy Executive Secretary noted that the emerging concern was provision of adequate assistance to these countries in order for them to achieve acceptable levels of economic growth and to promote their efforts on sustainable development. She indicated that space technology applications could play a critical role in national efforts on sustainable development. The first phase of RESAP had helped to improve coordination in the development and application of space technology at both national and regional levels. The Deputy Executive Secretary noted that the Second Ministerial Conference was expected to launch the second phase of RESAP, which was expected to build upon the achievements and experience gained in implementation of the first phase, further promoting regional cooperation in space applications. She expressed her best wishes to the delegates for success in the deliberations, which would provide the required guidance and direction to the future of RESAP.
51. In his opening remarks, K. Kasturirangan, Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, recalled the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, and noted its importance as a milestone in the promotion of space technology and its applications in the region. Five years on, the countries had gathered again to discuss the ways and means to cooperate further in this field. He noted that rapid technological developments were taking place globally, leading to the integrated use of space and information technologies, and thus the coming years would increasingly see practical applications of direct relevance to sustainable development. Mr Kasturirangan pointed out that the region should take advantage of these emerging trends and formulate plans to fully exploit the potential in high-priority application areas such as food security, distance education and disaster management.
52. As one of the parallel activities of the Ministerial Conference, the Science Symposium on Space Technology for Improving the Quality of Life in Developing Countries: A Perspective for the Next Millennium, was held from 15 to 17 November 1999. The Symposium was opened by His Excellency Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resources Development and Science and Technology. Jointly organized by ESCAP and the Indian Space Research Organization, the Symposium was intended to serve as a forum for interaction among scientists, academicians, and policy makers who are involved in policy planning, research and development applications, and industrial development in space technology. Several leading specialists from various fields of space policy, technology and applications attended.
53. Following the opening of the Science Symposium, the Space '99 Exhibition was opened by the Deputy Executive Secretary. Held from 15 to 20 November 1999, this technical exhibition was co-organized by the Indian Space Research Organization and Exhibitions India, Ltd. Over twenty participants from all over the world, including Canada, China, France, India, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, representing the leading players in the space industry, displayed their exhibits on the latest satellite technologies.
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B. Attendance
54. The Meeting was attended by representatives of the following members and associate members of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States of America, and Viet Nam.
55. Representatives of the following United Nations bodies and specialized agencies also attended: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
56. Representatives of the following intergovernmental organizations also attended: Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), European Space Agency (ESA) and Intersputnik International Organization of Communications (INTERSPUTNIK).
57. Representatives from a number of non-governmental organizations and other entities attended: International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).
58. A number of space planners, scientists, academicians, and entrepreneurs participating in the ESCAP/ISRO Science Symposium and the Technical Exhibition Space '99, both held in conjunction with the Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials and the Ministerial Conference, also attended the Meeting as observers.
C. Election of officers
59. The Meeting elected K. Kasturirangan, Secretary, Department of Space, India, as Chairperson; Guo Bao-Zhu, Deputy Director-General, China National Space Administration, China, and Suvit Vibulsresth, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Thailand, as Vice-Chairpersons; and His Excellency Mr Mehdi Tabeshian, Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone, Islamic Republic of Iran, as Rapporteur.
D. Adoption of the agenda
60. The following agenda was adopted by the Meeting:
1. Opening of the Meeting.
2. Election of officers.
3. Adoption of the agenda.
4. Review of the progress of implementation of the Beijing Declaration on Space Technology Applications for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, including the implementation of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development, at both national and regional levels.
5. Space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific: issues, vision, challenges and opportunities.
6. Strategy and action plan on space technology applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific and mechanism for effective regional cooperation.
7. Review of the draft ministerial declaration on space technology applications for improved quality of life in the new millennium.
8. Other matters.
9. Adoption of the report.
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E. Other matters
61. The Meeting noted with interest the report of the Symposium on Space Technology for Improving the Quality of Life in Developing Countries: A Perspective for the Next Millennium. Nearly 200 participants from 25 countries and six intergovernmental organizations attended the Symposium. A total of six lead talks and 26 case study presentations by eminent experts from different countries focused on five areas: food security; environmental integrity; disaster management; education, rural development and health care; and infrastructure for space applications. A panel of experts and the participants interacted in the discussions and identified specific actions, required at the regional and national level, to further develop techniques and solutions for the use of space technology in support of national development and improvement in the overall quality of life in society.
62. The Meeting also noted that the Space '99 Exhibition was organized as a side event of the Ministerial Conference. The Exhibition was inaugurated by the Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP on 15 November. Twenty-one exhibitors from the private and government sectors from nine countries exhibited their products and services at the Exhibition. The focus of the Exhibition was on the achievements and products of direct relevance to the Asia-Pacific region in this sector. Specific among the exhibits was space technology material, innovative space technologies, launch vehicle technologies, professional societies and bodies, mobile satellite communication, Earth observation imaging services, space flight market products, reliability and testing equipment, ground systems and technologies, Earth observation and GIS value-added services, direct-to-home technologies, and many other types of equipment and services. Participants of the Conference and many other experts took the opportunity to interact with the exhibitors and obtained detailed information on products and services.
63. The Senior Officials Meeting expressed its deep appreciation to the Government of India for its generous hosting of the Meeting and for the excellent arrangements.
F. Adoption of the report
64. The Meeting adopted its report on 17 November 1999.
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STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ON SPACE TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM
A. Introduction
1. The first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific was organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) at Beijing from 19 to 24 September 1994. The Conference adopted the Beijing Declaration on Space Technology Applications for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, which endorsed the Strategy for Regional Cooperation in Space Applications for Sustainable Development and the Action Plan on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific. The Conference launched the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (RESAP) to work towards the realization of the goals set forth in the Strategy and Action Plan.
2. RESAP was implemented by ESCAP through a network comprising: (a) the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee (ICC); (b) four regional working groups, one each on remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite-based positioning, satellite communication applications, meteorological satellite applications and natural hazards monitoring, and space sciences and technology applications; and (c) the Regional Information Service and the Education and Training Network. National focal points and national contact points represent the members on ICC and the regional working groups respectively.
3. RESAP has made a remarkable impact on the development and application of space technology in the region, thus validating the Strategy and Action Plan devised for it. However, there remains a considerable unfinished agenda that warrants the continuation of RESAP in a second phase.
4. In the longer term, only an effective regional institutional framework will result in accelerated and more equitable regional benefits from space technology applications. Since the first Ministerial Conference, some thought and action have been devoted to the task of defining the fundamental nature of such a framework. First, it should be voluntary, mutually beneficial and sustainable. Second, it should demonstrate an appropriate balance between the public, private and academic sectors. It is now the right time to decide on further action to bring this long-term objective closer to realization.
B. Preamble
1. Growth of space technology and applications in the region
5. Three countries in the region have end-to-end capability covering satellite design to launching. Nine countries are engaged in national multi-mission satellite projects. There are about 30 national remote sensing programmes and centres, with more than 20,000 remote sensing specialists working on approximately 2,000 natural resource and environment management projects. Over 10,000 GIS projects have been established. Several countries have invested US$ 100 million or more in the development of spatial information infrastructure. About 11 remote sensing satellite ground stations are running in parallel. In 1998, the region had access to more than 80 communication satellites providing over 1,700 transponders for telecommunications and television broadcasting. A number of countries have established national space coordination committees headed by senior officials. The region has also progressed in establishing education and training facilities in space technology applications.
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2. Space technology trends
6. In the last five years, space technology has come a long way. The size of satellites and even their cost are being reduced while their capability is increasing, making it affordable to launch a constellation of small satellites providing frequent, realiable and continuous space-based services to meet national and regional needs.
7. Satellites with the capability to provide "bandwidth demand" and with a gigabit data rate are being proposed. Earth observation satellites with high spatial, spectral, temporal and radiometric resolutions are being planned. Satellites for remote sensing, positioning and communications are becoming fundamental elements of the modern social infrastructure. The evolution of a seamless global information infrastructure based on interconnected regional and national infrastructures, efficiently integrating terrestrial networks with satellite networks is expected to happen in the coming decades. The information superhighways will provide near-real-time access to integrated services for the users.
8. In Earth observing, efforts are under way to ensure the continuity of services through broadening the responsibility for the space and ground segments. The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS), encompassing terrestrial and space systems, initiated by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and IGOS partners, was endorsed by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) through the Vienna Declaration.
9. These technological developments should make it easier for more countries in the region to participate in practical space projects either individually or collectively.
3. Challenges facing the region
10. More than 70 per cent of the population in the region relies on agriculture, primarily depending on traditional farming practices. The agricultural production scenario is not encouraging, with available per capita arable land shrinking; non-optimal management of land and water resources; degradation of the physical environment, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, soil salinity and alkalinity; and inadequate technological and financial inputs. Recent economic setbacks have resulted in massive job losses and reduced production in many parts of the region.
11. A burgeoning population, inadequate human resources development and a lack of continuing education to match the requirements of modern times are the sources of major problems. The shortage of fresh water is aggravated further by its uneven distribution owing to increasing demands from agriculture and industry. Water management is a crucial issue, particularly in the arid tropics in the region, where precipitation occurs on fewer than 100 days a year and most of it is lost as evaporation and run-off. Excessive groundwater mining in many drought-prone areas in the region has resulted in sinking groundwater tables. Industrial effluents and inadequately treated sewage have been degrading groundwater quality. Easy access to safe drinking water is still a distant dream in many villages in the developing countries.
12. Natural disasters such as cyclones, floods and drought cause enormous damage and dislocation. Most developing countries in the region suffer greatly from these disasters. The region is also susceptible to landslides, forest fires, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. The vulnerability of the region to these hazards cannot be overemphasized, particularly with the increasing concentration of human settlements in marginal lands and disaster-prone areas.
13. Developmental activities, including intensive agriculture and expanding industries, have exerted tremendous pressure on the natural environment. Strong growth in per capita use of fossil energy and fossil-fueled motor vehicles has resulted in increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollution. Global warming and the associated serious impact on climate, health and agriculture as a result of changes in the monsoon circulation, rainfall and sea level, inter alia, are likely to have dire consequences for the region in the next few decades.
14. Thus, the major challenge facing the region is in generating sustainable economic growth sufficient to feed and employ the increasing population without endangering the ecology and environment. Any framework for sustainable development at national and regional levels should take an integrated view, making effective use of frontier technologies such as space technology, biotechnology and information technology, as envisaged in Agenda 21 adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992.
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4. How can space technology address the key problems of the region?
15. Many of the difficulties summarized above can be lessened by the judicious application of technology. Space technology, in particular, has special advantages in that it offers a vantage point from which environmental conditions can be continuously and objectively monitored. The "high ground" of space permits communication services and information to be distributed quickly and over wide areas. The information capacity of modern space satellites is very high and can be simultaneously shared among many users. Thus, satellite systems can fill the role of information infrastructure through which many services can be effectively provided: distance education, business communications, telemedicine, emergency services, mapping, crop monitoring, and weather and climate observation, to name a few.
16. Technological advances in the past decade mean that many of these services and products can now be obtained at modest cost. Furthermore, the development and use of space technologies may act as a catalyst for national and regional capacity-building, frequently serving as a driver of industrial growth and more efficient resource management. In summary, appropriate space technologies may create wealth and improve the quality of life over large areas and in a sustainable manner.
C. Second Ministerial Conference
17. At its fifty-third session, the Commission recognized the need to prepare the region further for expanded and effective practical uses of space technologies for the twenty-first century. It requested the secretariat to take the necessary measures to initiate early preparations for the Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, to be convened in 1999. The Commission stressed that the Conference should be prepared with a fresh new vision, taking into account the technological trends, opportunities and challenges of the new millennium. The present publication defines the Strategy and Action Plan for the second phase of RESAP (RESAP II).
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D. Issues in regional cooperation
18. A number of issues identified at the first Ministerial Conference both at the regional and the national level are more or less the same. In revisiting these issues, inputs derived from an ESCAP mission to four selected countries in the region, as well as the proceedings of the meetings of ICC and the regional working groups, have been reflected.
1. Regional issues
19. The following regional issues were identified:
- Gross diversity in terms of economic development and cultural values
- Low priority to international activity because of economic weakness and day-to-day problems
- The absence of an institutional mechanism, such as a regional space agency, to take up substantive projects
- Insufficiently substantive agendas for the meetings of ICC and the regional working groups
- The inability of national focal and contact points, owing to financial constraints in many cases, to attend the meetings of the regional working groups and ICC
- Deficient and intermittent financial support
- The lack of a "critical mass" of trained personnel and resources
- Inadequate industry and academic involvement
2. National issues
20. The following national issues were identified:
- Lack of full awareness of the potential of space technology among planners and administrators
- Differing goals and perspectives
- A shortage not only of funds but also of professionals
- Lack of proper coordination and cooperation
- Poor interaction of national focal and contact points with all the relevant players at the national level
- Insufficient priority for space technology applications to development
- Inadequate involvement of the private sector in space activities
- Lack of research and development activities to meet end-users' needs
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E. Strategy
21. Many of the issues identified at the first Ministerial Conference require further time and effort to resolve. Broadly speaking, the strategy adopted earlier should continue at both the regional and the national level.
1. Regional strategies
(a) RESAP II
22. The second phase of RESAP is proposed for implementation by ESCAP under the existing, but strengthened, network.
(b)Space Technology Applications Section
23. All possible means should be explored to increase the number of professional personnel in the Space Technology Applications Section. The Section home page on the Internet should be expanded. Newsletters and journals should be reduced and put on the home page. However, the Section should continue to publish material at least annually to disseminate research and development (R and D) as well as the operational progress of RESAP. To reduce travel time, the use of video teleconferencing facilities should be considered.
(c) Operationalization of the network
24. The membership of the regional working groups could be enlarged by having more national contact points for each working group, to include experts from space agencies, academia, R and D institutions and industry. Member governments of ICC should nominate senior representatives as national focal and contact points. The agenda for ICC and the regional working group meetings should be substantive. Its annotated version should be sent to the members sufficiently in advance of the meetings to enable representatives to consult their governments. Because ICC fulfils an important policy-determining role for the formulation and implementation of RESAP, attendance at ICC meetings should be regular and well supported by expert advice. Representatives should have the authority to make commitments on behalf of their governments. Regional working groups should create their own home pages.
(d) Introduction of space applications in the Commission and funding institutions
25. Space technology applications provide valuable data and information, and act as an enabling tool for sound decision-making on projects, their planning and implementation. Enhanced use of these technologies by the secretariat and in other ESCAP activities would emphasize the relevance of space technology in regional and national development. Space applications could also be introduced on the above lines by funding agencies and development banks such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
(e) Spatial data infrastructure
26. Support and coordination for an operational Earth space information network should proceed, taking into consideration related initiatives such as the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network, the Asia-Pacific Information Infrastructure, the work of CEOS and the Global Observation Information Network initiative of the United States of America and Japan, and make full use of the regional Permanent Committee on Geographic Information Systems Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific.
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27. The region's natural resources are increasingly affected by non-sustainable use caused by population pressure and associated environmental degradation. A more advanced spatial data infrastructure is needed to assess and monitor these processes on a regional scale. Such a development is a prerequisite for adequate national reporting on action arising from the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which, among other things, called for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through joint implementation, a clean development mechanism and possible implementation of an emission trading scheme.
28. A multi-purpose natural resource database using commonly agreed standards and classifications should be established and maintained for the Asian and Pacific subregions. It should include digital base maps and both current and archival information derived from Earth observation and in situ measurement. Land cover, land use, hydrological and oceanic information may be gathered by national government agencies in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Meteorological Organization, IGOS, ESCAP and other coordination and funding bodies as necessary. Based on the successful implementation of the AFRICOVER project by FAO and the methods and tools developed in that project, ESCAP and its member countries should consider planning jointly the preparation of a multi-purpose digital land-cover map and database. Such a regional project would significantly strengthen national capacity to assess natural resources systematically and to monitor environmental change, as recommended in Agenda 21.
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(f) Harmonization of regional initiatives
29. Institutional arrangements should be in place to strengthen regional cooperation. Towards that end, ESCAP was mandated by the first Ministerial Conference to conduct a study aimed at harmonizing various regional initiatives for the promotion of space technology applications. This study was conducted with funding support from the Government of Japan through the Japan-ESCAP Cooperation Fund. The project, encompassing a policy survey, a high-level consultative mission, concept formulation and three Dialogues (held in China, India and Thailand), was initiated in June 1996 and completed in December 1997. The harmonization study concluded that a regional space agency was a desirable eventual outcome that should be achieved in a gradual and step-wise fashion. Towards that end, the third Dialogue agreed to establish a Dialogue Forum comprising relatively advanced regional space players and major regional initiatives, namely the Asia-Pacific Conference on Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications and the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum.
30. The Dialogue Forum on Regional Initiatives for Space Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific, the first of its kind in a United Nations Commission, is intended (a) to promote dialogue between the countries of the region participating in major space initiatives, (b) to explore common cooperative projects and (c) to consider the concept of a regional space agency through consultation and dialogue. ESCAP organized the first meeting of the Dialogue Forum at Ulaanbaatar on 24 and 25 June 1998, back-to-back with the fifth meeting of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum.
31. Full realization of space development in the region would be accelerated and made more equitable through an effective regional cooperative mechanism. This should, on a long-term basis, result in a permanent arrangement such as a regional space agency that would help to overcome the high cost barrier preventing many smaller economies from participating in space projects. Through economies of scale and reduced duplication of effort, the mechanism would provide a critical mass that should stimulate private sector space enterprise and give a stronger regional presence to global space affairs. To assist the Dialogue Forum in its efforts, ESCAP should commission a broadly based expert group to study and identify potential models for regional cooperative mechanisms. The potential role of the private sector should be especially considered
.
32. ESCAP should also encourage the formation of subregional groups, whenever necessary and feasible, for the implementation of projects of common interest and strengthen its interaction with successful international initiatives such as CEOS and IGOS partners.
(g) Association of regional space industries
33. ESCAP should act as a catalyst for the establishment of an association of regional space businesses on the principle of joint ventures among members. This platform should prove indispensable in the practical implementation of larger space projects.
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(h) Third Ministerial Conference
34. A high-level forum such as a ministerial conference is necessary to intensify regional cooperation, mobilize stronger political will and collectively address a range of issues. A third Ministerial Conference should be convened at an appropriate time. It might consider concrete steps towards an institutional framework for regional space development.
(i) Human resources development
35. ESCAP should strengthen its Regional Information Service and Education and Training Network to enable it to play a catalytic role in strengthening the existing regional network on space education and training based on the regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific and other national centres of excellence. The sharing of expertise and facilities among such centres of excellence should be able to address the continuous need for skilled and trained personnel in various space-related fields. In addition, continuous efforts in promoting regional education network building would have far-reaching impacts on national capacity-building. Towards this end, financial and other support is sought from bilateral and international development agencies.
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2. National strategies
(a) National space agencies
36. Those countries with sufficiently large-scale and continuous space projects may find that a national space agency is an effective focal point for space-related activities at the national as well as the regional level. To bring the users closer to the scene of action, the space agency should interact with major user sectors such as agriculture, environment, land use, telecommunications, meteorology, and planning and development. In addition, there should be science and technology professionals from the universities and private industry to carry out R and D and commercialize space applications. Selected space applications, when "mature", should be transplanted to the respective user departments. Private sector industries should be provided with access to technology developed at the space agency, and the technology recipient industry in return should extend cash and in-kind support to the space agency. Agencies engaged in space projects that could involve regional partners should make "announcements of opportunity" on the Internet and other media.
(b) Human resources development
37. More universities should offer courses related to space technology such as satellite-based positioning, satellite communications, satellite meteorology and satellite remote sensing environment monitoring in their standard postgraduate degree programmes in physics, meteorology, electronics, electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering and computer hardware and software. Scholarships and travel allowances should be offered to facilitate the effective use of existing regional centres of excellence.
(c) Coordination
38. National coordination mechanisms should be further strengthened or, if they are not already in existence, established. They should promote the appropriate use of space technology in meeting national development needs. In addition, they could coordinate space technology activities at the national level, promote regional cooperation and arrange funds.
(d) Privatization of space
39. With new economic realities, many space agencies and space-related government organizations are developing partnerships with commercial enterprises for the delivery and operation of selected elements of space infrastructure. Suitable policies should be implemented to bring about a close partnership between the government and private sector industry for affordable and user-friendly services to the community at large.
(e) Promotional efforts
40. In addition to holding national workshops, broadcasting programmes on radio and television, and writing articles for the press, the emphasis should be on creating objective home pages and their continual improvement, as well as the extension of Internet facilities.
(f) Extra funding
41. The shift in UNDP strategy to operate under the Regional Cooperation Framework means that UNDP will no longer provide support for a regional remote sensing programme. Scientists and their departments should prepare viable project proposals that address problems related to education, food, poverty, the environment and other issues and take these up with UNDP or other relevant institutions for funding support.
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F. Action Plan
42. The major issues identified earlier require various modalities to accomplish the following:
- To coordinate the work at regional and national levels to bring about synergy and minimize duplication, idle capacity and waste of resources
- To create an environment conducive to partnership between government R and D organizations, educational institutions and the industrial sector
- To educate and train specialist human resources, including experienced managers for programmes related to space technology
- To promote integration of space applications with development planning
- To adopt national policies enabling the reorientation of space activities from technology-push to application-driven
- To overcome the lack of strong commitment in many members and associate members in space technology and applications
- To enhance funding for space applications and the Regional Information Services and Education and Training Network
43. The Action Plan is geared towards addressing the major issues and helping to solve the pressing problems of the region. In devising the Action Plan, the experience gained in the implementation of RESAP has been of great benefit.
1. At the regional level
44. The following recommendations are made based on the various strategies discussed earlier:
1. The ESCAP secretariat should continue to act as the secretariat of the Dialogue Forum, organize its meetings and promote its work.
2. RESAP II should be launched, focusing on the minimum essential requirements of countries in the region.
3. ESCAP should execute RESAP II under the existing but strengthened network.
4. ESCAP should suggest that members and associate members nominate more national contact points for each regional working group, to include experts from space agencies, academia, R and D institutions and industry. Those who have not made nominations for ICC and the regional working groups should be requested by ESCAP to do so. Moreover, ESCAP should stress to ICC members the need for regular participation of senior professionals in the network meetings.
5. ESCAP should ensure that the agendas for the meetings of ICC and the regional working groups are action-oriented.
6. ESCAP should commission an expert group to study and identify potential models for an effective regional cooperative mechanism that, over time, in a step-by-step manner, could lead to a more permanent arrangement such as a regional space agency. The results of the study, which should include an analysis of the role of the private sector, should be presented to the Dialogue Forum for consideration.
7. ESCAP should act as a catalyst for the establishment of an association of regional space industries. Towards that end, it should commission a study that should propose possible frameworks for this.
8. ESCAP should encourage cooperation at the subregional level and should strengthen interaction with successful international initiatives such as CEOS and the proposed IGOS.
9. ESCAP should consider planning, jointly with the countries of the region and FAO, a regional multi-purpose land-cover map and database through further development of methods and tools developed for the AFRICOVER project.
10. All possible means may be explored to increase the number of professional personnel in the Space Technology Applications Section.
11. ESCAP, in conjunction with relevant organizations, should encourage the estab-lishment of a regional information infrastructure to support national implementa-tion of Agenda 21 and the Kyoto Protocol.
12. ESCAP should, in consultation with ICC, draw up projects of regional interest, especially those that support food security, poverty alleviation, distance education, environmental applications and disaster management.
13. The Space Technology Applications Section should modify its method of communication and dissemination of information to make more effective use of teleconferencing and the Internet. However, publications to disseminate R and D, as well as the operational progress of RESAP, should continue to be published at least annually.
14. ESCAP should consider establishing satellite-based video teleconferencing facilities between coordinators' offices and selected members of the regional working groups.
15. RESAP II should continue to aim, inter alia, at objective-oriented human resources development, especially at the managerial level, with attention on target groups comprising scientists, technologists, academics and decision makers.
16. ESCAP should promote networking among remote sensing ground station facilities in the region to facilitate data accessibility, especially in addressing the needs for data used for disaster management.
17. ESCAP should introduce space technology applications to develop a spatial information network for sound decision-making on projects, their planning and implementation, besides making these an integral element of selected projects. This practice may also be followed by financial institutions and development agencies such as UNDP, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
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2. At the national level
(a) Need for a national focus for space technology development and applications
45. The following recommendations are made for a national focus for space technology development and applications:
1. Where justified by the volume and continuity of space projects, governments may consider establishing a national space agency and giving it a high degree of autonomy to enable it to function efficiently.
2. The space agency should interact with major user organizations in the fields of agriculture, water, environment, land use, telecommunications and meteorology to work as developers of applications in their respective specializations. They should be assisted by university teachers for R and D and by industry for the commercialization of techniques. Once the applications are sufficiently developed, they should be transplanted to the relevant user.
3. More universities should offer space technology and applications-related subjects such as remote sensing, digital image processing, satellite communications, satellite meteorology, and computers and software development. Fellowships and travel allowances should be available to facilitate the effective use of regional centres of excellence in space education and training.
4. The space agency should assist universities in launching new educational programmes oriented towards space technology and its applications.
5. R and D efforts should be directed towards technology as well as applications.
6. The government should establish national coordination mechanisms to promote the appropriate use of space technology applications in meeting national development needs. It could also coordinate space projects, arrange funding support, draw up policies for promoting space applications and facilitate partnerships between the space agency and private industry.
7. The private sector should be allowed access to the facilities of the government laboratories and transfer the technologies developed by the latter in exchange for the private sector's in-kind support, such as sponsorship of national contact points to attend meetings and for the launching of new applications projects.
8. The government should nominate high-level national focal and contact points to represent it on ICC and the regional working groups respectively, and vest them with the authority to make commitments on its behalf. It should ensure their regular participation in the meetings of these bodies.
9. Agencies engaged in space projects that could involve regional partners should make "announcements of opportunity" on the Internet and other media.
(b) Bridging of information gaps and undertaking of promotional activities
46. The following recommendation is made towards bridging the information gap:
Universities, colleges, R and D organizations, industries, users and government agencies should make effective use of the Internet to disseminate information. In addition, they should continue to employ traditional methods of education and training through seminars, workshops, and radio/television and print media.
(c) Ways and means of generating funds
47. The following recommendations are made to generate funds:
1. The national coordination committee should arrange funds for the projects approved by it and for national contact and focal points to perform their functions, including attending meetings of the regional working groups and ICC respectively.
2. In addition, the scientists as individuals, or their departments, should prepare projects on themes prioritized by development agencies such as UNDP and the World Bank for soliciting financial assistance. The partnership with private industry and commercialization of space operations should also generate funds.
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G. Minimum Common Programme
48. The Minimum Common Programme should constitute the core element of RESAP II. It is aimed at synergizing efforts for the realization of the following goals:
- Environmental and natural resource management
- Food security and agriculture systems
- Capacity-building
- Human resources development and education
- Poverty alleviation
- Natural disaster reduction
- Health care and hygiene
- Sustainable development planning
49. To support the implementation of the Minimum Common Programme, common denominator projects such as those mentioned below should be undertaken:
(a) Studies on the themes prioritized in paragraph 48 to outline the role of space technology and the methodologies to apply it in order to meet the goals and objectives of the themes;
(b) Human resources development through:
(i) Seminars/workshops and short-term as well as long-term fellowships;
(ii) Technical cooperation among developing countries to promote the exchange of scientists between countries to develop and operate educational and training facilities at the national level;
(iii) Networking of regional educational and training institutes.
(c) Technology cooperation by engaging in such projects as:
(i) Joint regional small satellite programme;
(ii) Joint development of a common payload for small satellites;
(iii) Development of inexpensive ground-receiving stations and data-processing hardware and software;
(iv) Application and sharing of satellite data.
(d) Development of information infrastructure for sustainable planning and develop-ment comprising an Earth space information network, preferably in cooperation with the Global Observation Information Network, the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network, the Asia-Pacific Information Infrastructure and CEOS.
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H. Financial mechanisms
1. Regional level
50. ESCAP should enhance the utilization of the services of the Space Technology Applica-tions Section for the development of an integrated regional database, accessible to the divisions of ESCAP and other entities, for the planning and implementation of regional projects.
51. Each member and associate member should strive to make cash and/or in-kind contri-butions towards RESAP II by providing experts and consultants and other support. The pledges could be made at the annual sessions of the Commission.
52. ESCAP should encourage countries, donors and other entities to fund and support the projects prioritized by ICC
.
53. The larger economies, space powers of the region, donors and the private sector should consider making special cash and/or in-kind contributions to support RESAP II.
54. A study should be made to define various options, including the establishment of a trust fund, for financial support to the implementation of RESAP II. The developed countries, United Nations agencies and financial institutions might consider, whenever feasible, making contributions towards that fund. The fund could be administered by ICC on the pattern of the Typhoon Committee.
2. National level
55. In addition to making funds available for the national space technology application programmes, each member should ensure that funds are available to fulfil its regional obligations in the field. The modes of funding arrangements might include:
(a) Grants for space technology application development, education and training;
(b) Allocations for the implementation of specific space technology projects;
(c) Funds earmarked for space applications in major national projects;
(d) Earnings through the commercialization of space operations;
(e) Cash and/or in-kind support by private sector industry for selected projects in return for technology transfer or other services;
(f) Grants and assistance from United Nations agencies, developed countries and financial institutions for selected projects.
I. Time frame and review
56. The Strategy and Action Plan have been designed for the 2000-2005 period. These should be modified to the extent necessary to respond to the demands of time through reviews to be carried out at the annual sessions of the Commission. The third Ministerial Conference should be convened at an appropriate time in the future, to be determined by emerging conditions.
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DELHI DECLARATION ON SPACE TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC FOR IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
We, the members and associate members of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, convening at the Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in New Delhi from 15 to 20 November 1999,
Recalling that the first Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Beijing in 1994, was an important milestone in the promotion of space science and technology development and applications in the Asian and Pacific region,
Acknowledging that the launching of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development at the first Ministerial Conference and its implementation have had a significant impact on national capacity-building, enhancing regional capabilities and raising the status of the Asian and Pacific region to be one of the fast-growing areas for space technology development and applications,
Guided by the decisions, recommendations and resolutions adopted by various United Nations and other forums on the applications and use of space technology for the benefit of humanity, and in particular:
(a) Resolution 51/11 of 1 May 1995 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on regional cooperation on space applications for environment and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific, which endorsed the Beijing Declaration on Space Technology Applications for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific and the recommendations of the first Ministerial Conference,
(b) General Assembly resolution 51/123 of 13 December 1996 on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, which emphasized the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development,
(c) The recommendation of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Development at its first session, held in Bangkok in October 1998, to continue efforts in, inter alia, the promotion of the development of remote sensing, spatial information systems and other space technology applications for environmental monitoring, natural resources development and natural disaster reduction,
(d) The recommendation of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific at its fifty-fifth session, held in Bangkok in April 1999, to continue with the activities being implemented under the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development with a view to making its implementation more effective in order to assist developing countries in gaining full benefits from space applications through national capacity-building, technical assistance, information exchange and promotional activities under technical cooperation among developing countries arrangements,
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(e) The recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna in July 1999, bringing the impact of this important global event into the regional context and helping the region to benefit from space technology applications in the new millennium,
Noting that rapid technological developments are leading to the integrated use of space and information technologies to form Earth observation, spatial information and decision support systems that will become indispensable tools for practical applications in high priority areas,
Noting also that satellite communications and broadcasting systems, together with fibre optics, provide multimedia technologies and other services, and are contributing to improved human connectivity, human resources development and poverty alleviation through applications such as distance education, rural health care and emergency relief,
Recognizing that space science research and technologies for satellite Earth observation, satellite-based positioning and navigation, and satellite communications are advancing rapidly and that new areas of technology applications keep emerging,
Taking cognizance of the fusion of space technologies and the ever-growing role of information technology and others, not only in the development of space technologies but also in the extension of their applications,
Realizing that the growing interest in regionalization and the tremendous opportunities for economies of scale in space activities generate a greater need for a genuine regional partnership arrangement among interested entities in space technology development missions and integrated operational space applications services,
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Hereby affirm that we:
1. Stress the essential role of space technology and applications to environmental and natural resource management; food security; capacity-building; human resources development and education; poverty alleviation; weather forecasting; natural disaster reduction; health care and hygiene; and sustainable development planning;
2. Agree that it is essential to use practical and feasible means for the effective implementation of technology research and development programmes, including the mechanism for enhancing academic exchange and human resources development;
3. Agree that there is an urgent need to examine and institutionalize regional cooperative mechanisms appropriate for accelerating collaboration in the field of space technology to achieve a more equitable benefit for the countries of the region;
4. Share the vision for the twenty-first century aimed at regional cooperation as envisaged in "Space vision 21: the future of space technology development and applications in Asia and the Pacific", which addresses the potential for space technology applications in dealing with many of the problems facing the Asian and Pacific region, in order to improve the quality of life;
5. Adopt the Strategy and Action Plan on Space Technology Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific for the New Millennium for extending regional cooperation in space applications for sustainable development designed to enhance further the accomplishments achieved through the first phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development;
6. Declare the launching of the second phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development, which focuses on an action-oriented, results-driven programme for optimizing human and financial resources in the region through vigorous cooperation in the areas of environmental and natural resource management; food security; capacity-building; human resources development and education; poverty alleviation; weather forecasting; natural disaster reduction; health care and hygiene; and sustainable development planning towards improving the quality of life;
7. Urge bilateral and multilateral donors and international organizations to support the implementation of the second phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development;
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8. Commit ourselves to participate actively in the second phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development;
9. Request the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to convene a third Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific to review the progress on the second phase of the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development and the development efforts under the Strategy and Action Plan endorsed by the present Conference, at an appropriate time in the future to be determined by emerging conditions in the region.
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