International Affairs Events Archive
June - December 2007
The 40th Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) took place 19-28 June 2007
The meeting was held at the United Nations Economic Scientific and Cultural Organization's headquarters in Paris, France. As the IOC approaches its 50th Anniversary (2010) the Member States explored the "Future of the IOC" in extensive deliberations. The delegates adopted a updated budget and Medium Term Strategy as well as many resolutions relating to promoting the on-going work of the IOC related to Tsunamis, data sharing and management, capacity building and the Global Ocean Observing System. At the opening ceremonies, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher provided a report to the Commission in his role as Co-Chair of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). His comments noted the upcoming Earth Observation Summit IV (GEO Ministerial Summit) as an opportunity to advance the vision of IOC through GEO. The head of the U.S. delegation was Dr. Richard Spinrad, Assistant Administrator of Oceans and Atmospheric Research, who was joined by John H. Dunnigan, Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service and NOAA Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Dr. William J. Brennan, and other interagency experts.