UNIS/OS/339
8 September 2006

United Nations to Hold Symposium on Space Tools for Monitoring Air Pollution and Energy Use                 

VIENNA, 8 September (UN Information Service) -- A four-day Symposium on "Space Tools for Monitoring Air Pollution and Energy Use for Sustainable Development" will be held at the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Graz, Austria, from 12 to 15 September. The Symposium is being organized within the framework of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), the Government of Austria, Joanneum Research and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Symposium will be hosted and co-sponsored by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, the Province of Styria, the City of Graz and ESA.

The objectives of the Symposium are: (i) to promote and inform about the uses of space technology to support the actions called for in the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation related to monitoring air pollution and energy production and use; (ii) to examine what low-cost space-related technologies and informational resources are available for addressing air pollution and energy use; (iii) to examine what type and level of training is required, and for which target groups, in using space technologies for addressing air pollution and energy use and production; (iv) to examine the strategy for including space technology based tools and information in the decision-making process in monitoring air pollution and energy use; (v) to identify a functional partnership that could be established between Governments, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to promote the use of space technologies for monitoring air pollution and energy use and production; and (vi) to enhance the participation of women in decision-making related to monitoring air pollution and energy use and production.

Around 60 decision makers and programme managers from governmental institutions and the private sector from the following countries and organizations are expected to attend the Symposium: Algeria, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, China, Georgia, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Syria, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. The following international organizations will participate: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASS), International Energy Agency (IEA), United Nations Climate Change Secretariat (UNCCS), European Commission, ESA and OOSA.

Press briefing

A press briefing with the participation of organizers of the Symposium and experts will take place, at which journalists will be provided with information on the issues that will be addressed during the Symposium.

Date and time: 12 September 2006 11:00 a.m.
Place: Institute for Space Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences
Schmiedlstrasse 6, Graz, Austria.

 

For information on the press briefing, please contact:

Hans-Peter Weingand,
Public Relations, Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft
Tel: +43 (316) 876 1150, Mobile: +43 (699) 1876 1150
E-mail: hans-peter.weingand@joanneum.at ; pr@joanneum.at

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The United Nations Programme on Space Applications is implemented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all nations, in particular developing countries. Under the Programme, the Office conducts training courses, workshops, seminars and other activities on applications and capacity building in subjects such as remote sensing, communications, satellite meteorology, search and rescue, basic space science, satellite navigation and space law.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee. The Office is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology. Located in Vienna, Austria, OOSA maintains a website at http://www.unoosa.org/ .