Suggestions for National Committees for the Year of Planet Earth
Preamble
The International Year of Planet Earth is a 3-years event (2007-2009) aimed at promoting the contribution to sustainable development of society by using knowledge and information provided by the geosciences. Implementation will take place through a Science and an Outreach Programme, similar in weight and budget. This is a joint initiative by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and UNESCO, supported by 12 Founding Partners and 23 Associate Partners, sponsors and donors. Implementation will be both on an international and on national levels. The Corporation of the Year of Planet Earth will be responsible for international implementation and National Committees on national levels. This document is meant to assist National Committees in-formation to create such bodies and to advise on their relationship with the Corporation.Composition
National Committees are free as to their composition. They are, however, advised to involve representatives of the initiating bodies (IUGS and UNESCO) in their team as well as representatives of major national geoscientific organisations, such as the geological survey, geological and geophysical societies, industry, universities, relevant ministries et cetera. Although it is suggested to keep the organisational structure as light and flexible as possible, National Committees are also advised to consider involving representatives of IGCP, Founding Partners and Associate Partners. Finally, it is suggested to appoint a Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer as well as a contact person with the Corporation.Relation with Corporation
Although National Committees are independent bodies they are strongly advised to develop a formal relationship with the Corporation of the Year of Planet Earth. Such a relationship would be profitable to both parties. National Committees profit from the preparatory work done on an international level and raising political awareness among the 191 member countries of the United Nations. Moreover, National Committees will profit from the science and outreach brochures, the granting mechanism for international science and outreach projects adding value to national initiatives, the international website, the international calendar of events, and the availability of a professional organisation and secretariat. In turn, the Corporation will profit from listing national activities serving as models for international activities and for other National Committees. Moreover, the activities by the National Committees will strongly contribute to the success of the global awareness movement and progress on this must be reported by the Corporation to the United Nations.Three types of relations may require some special attention here.
1. Science and outreach relations
2. Communication relations
3. Financial relations.
As to Science and outreach relations it is suggested that National Committees select science themes from the list of 10 themes developed for the International Year for implementation in their own countries and so to contribute to answer some of the key questions posed in the science brochures to assist national and international decision makers. The Corporation and more in particular the Science Programme Committee and Outreach Programme Committees would be happy to assist them in these efforts. In this respect it may be advisable to appoint a science and an outreach officer in the National Committees. In addition, National Committees may wish to propose science and outreach projects of a supranational level to be supported by the Corporation.
As to communication it is suggested that National Committees develop a website hot-linked to www.yearofplanetearth.org and vice versa. They may also wish to translate key documents presented on the Corporation's website in their national language and make that available on their national but also on the international website. The Corporation envisages listing all national events on a calendar of events and make that available worldwide. Moreover, a discussion and communication site will be developed for all National Committees on the website (portal) of the Corporation.
As to financial relations, the National Committees are independent and are supposed to raise financial support within their own countries to implement their activities on a national scale, comparably as the Corporation will do that for international activities. Science and outreach projects with international dimensions may be submitted for (seed money) funding to the Corporation. As the National Committee profits from the groundwork (the UN proclamation, the science and outreach brochures, international fundraising) done by the (predecessor of) the Corporation and as it may profit from funding activities with international dimensions and receive assistance from the Corporation wherever desirable and possible, National Committees are invited to contribute to the administration costs of the Corporation by providing 3% of their cash income from national resources to the Corporation. To describe the mutual relationship it is proposed that Memoranda of Understanding will be signed between National Committees and the Corporation.
