Environment and Natural Resources Management Space Technology Applications Section

1. Towards enhancing regional coordination and cooperation in effective promotion of applications of space technology for sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, the Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held from 19 to 24 September 1994 in Beijing, endorsed the Beijing Declaration on Space Technology Applications for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, through which a Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (RESAP) was officially launched. The programme aims at directly assisting developing members and associate members of ESCAP in addressing urgent environmental and development problems, and integrating space technology into development planning for achieving sustainable development in the Asian and Pacific region.

2. Towards achieving this goal, the Ministerial Conference, through the Beijing Declaration, called upon all members and associate members of ESCAP to participate actively in RESAP, and to reconstitute the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on the ESCAP/UNDP Regional Remote Sensing Programme by defining its modus operandi and new mandates to cover matters relating to RESAP.

3. The Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on the Regional Remote Sensing Programme was established in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 26 May 1984 by the following regional members of ESCAP: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, with the objective of promoting regional cooperation and collaboration in space remote sensing applications. This Consultative Committee had the following 20 ESCAP regional members: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

4. Recognizing the essential role of the Committee in assisting ESCAP in the successful implementation of regional cooperation programmes, realizing the importance and the necessity for an institutional mechanism to provide ESCAP with policy and technical advice for the efficient implementation of RESAP, and also taking into consideration the existing framework of the ESCAP conference structure and the fact that ESCAP has established a Space Technology Applications Section (STAS) to implement space applications programmes, the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on the Regional Remote Sensing Programme was reconstituted into the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development as an ad hoc mechanism, to continue providing policy and technical advice to ESCAP in the implementation of the activities under RESAP. The reconstituted Committee became effective with effect from 16 June 1995, with the following terms of reference.

(a) Advise on matters relevant to the successful implementation of the ESCAP Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development;

(b) Advise on policy matters in relation to effective collaboration and cooperation on space technology development and applications, with particular attention to their effects on such technology applications as satellite remote sensing, satellite meteorology, communication satellites, satellibe-based positioning systems and related GIS technology and space science applications for environment and natural resources management, and development planning;

(c ) Advise on the establishment or strengthening of regional cooperative mechanisms and modalities on space technology applications that are of benefit to the region, by pooling resources and bringing about self-reliance in this field;

(d) Advise on effective dissemination of information on important national and international developments in space technology application areas, with particular emphasis on the implementation of Agenda 21 for environmentally sound and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific;

(e) Advise on funding mechanisms for space applications projects and on appropriate steps in mobilizing policy-level financial and technical support from the participating members, donors and financial institutions for the effective implementation of the Regional Programme;

(f) Advise on the involvement of NGOs, universities, research institutions and the industrial and private sectors in promoting space technology applications for sustainable development of the region;

(g) Review the annual work plan, analyse and make recommendations on the medium-tem work plans of ESCAP/RESAP within its budgetary, organizational and time constraints, which would make it more relevant and beneficial to the region;

(h) Endorse the formulations of the Regional Working Groups on various space application themes constituted as per the Regional Action Plan, review the study reports and recommendations of the working groups, and provide policy guidelines for their implementation;

(i) Provide guidelines for the further development and sustainability of RESAP.

6. The Governments that are members or associate members of ESCAP shall be eligible to participate in ICC on RESAP. All members of the existing ICC will become members of ICC on RESAP.

7. Any other government that wishes to become a member of ICC on RESAP shall inform the ESCAP secretariat and be represented at the subsequent ICC session, after which the membership will take effect.

8. All members of ICC on RESAP shall designate two national focal points through formal credentials from the Government for participation in the ICC session. The national focal point shall be mandated to make commitments on behalf of the Government.

9. ICC sessions shall be organized at least once a year. Such sessions shall be held in a member country in the Asian and Pacific region through consultation and consensus, as has been practised in the past. If necessary, a special session may be convened to discuss any urgent or important matter.

10. ICC shall at the end of each annual session elect a chairman, a vice-chairman and a rapporteur who shall hold the office for the subsequent period until the end of the next session.

11. Representatives of governments who are not ESCAP members or associate members and representatives of related United Nations bodies and specialized United Nations agencies may, upon request, be invited to participate in the sessions of ICC in a consultative capacity.

12. Representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and such other organizations and entities as the secretariat may deem appropriate, and experts in fields of interest to ICC may be invited to participate in the sessions of ICC in a consultative capacity.

13. All reports on ICC shall be submitted to ESCAP for review through the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

14. Any ESCAP member or associate member participating in ICC may propose any amendment to these terms of reference.

15. The proposed amendment shall be considered by ICC at its annual session, and if a consensus is reached it shall enter into force. Such proposals for amendments should be communicated to the ESCAP secretariat well in advance of the annual session of ICC, to enable other members to respond to such proposals.