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International Affairs Events Archive

January - May 2007

• The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is leading a worldwide effort to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) over the next 10 years.  In March 2007, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, NOAA Administrator, met with the 12 member, GEO Executive Committee to make recommendations and plan for the GEO Ministerial Summit to be held in November in Cape Town South Africa.  At the Summit, GEO will seek to identify its key accomplishments and map a vision for the future of Earth Observations.  More information can be found at: http://www.earthobservations.org/about/about_GEO.html.

• The 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and 10th meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Treaty will take place 30 April – 4 May 2007.  Topics on the agenda include international polar year, tourism and non-governmental activities, prevention of marine pollution, area protection and management, conservation of Antarctic flora and fauna, and strategic discussions on the future of the Committee for Environmental Protection.  More information can be found at: http://30atcm.ats.aq/30atcm/index.shtm.

• The 59th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission took place 28-31 May 2007.   Hosted by the U.S. in Anchorage, Alaska and chaired by Dr. William Hogarth, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, the U.S. effectively negotiated bowhead and gray whale five-year quotas. By consensus, the Commission renewed the U.S. aboriginal subsistence whaling catch limits for both. Catch limits for humpback whales in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and for minke, fin and bowhead whales in Greenland were renewed as well. At the opening ceremonies, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher joined Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, Congressman Don Young, other Alaskan government and tribal dignitaries, NOAA Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Dr. William J. Brennan, and Bill Hogarth.  Serving as the Acting U.S. Commissioner, Dr. Doug DeMaster led the U.S. Delegation, which included representatives from the Departments of Commerce, State, Interior, Navy, Coast Guard, and the Marine Mammal Commission. Many NOAA staff worked tirelessly for a year to achieve last week's successful outcomes.