12th Plenary Session of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO-XII)
and GEO 2015 Mexico City Ministerial Summit

The Twelfth Plenary Session of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO-XII) will convene from 11-12 November 2015 in Mexico City, Mexico, followed by the 2015 Mexico City Ministerial Summit on Friday, 13 November. The Ministerial Summit is expected to approve a 2016-2025 Strategic Plan for the GEO System of Systems (GEOSS).

GEO-XII will be preceded on Tuesday, 10 November by the Meeting of the GEO Executive Committee. The Committee guides GEO between Plenary sessions; the Plenary is GEO’s annual primary decision-making body.

GEO is a voluntary partnership of governments and international organizations that are coordinating efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). GEOSS seeks to link existing and planned observing systems around the world, and support the development of new systems where gaps currently exist, with a view to providing key data to assist decision makers, planners and emergency managers in nine “Societal Benefit Areas”: disasters, health, energy, climate, water, weather, ecosystems, agriculture and biodiversity.

Side events will be held on Monday and Tuesday 9-10 November. Many will be forums and panel discussions open to all participants and the general public and will address such issues as agriculture and food security, measuring biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, ocean acidification, water security, land cover, and greenhouse gas observation from space.