The 11th Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) Asia-Pacific Symposium was convened on October 24-26, 2018, in Kyoto, Japan, under the theme of “Strengthening Regional Cooperation through AOGEOSS for the SDGs, Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework.” During the symposium, many sessions were hosted by various international organizations, including the one by the Asian Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI), which promotes regional cooperation among countries participating in the International Flood Initiative (IFI).
The AWCI session was attended by representatives from countries where IFI is currently being implemented, such as Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Myanmar, including Hon. State Minister Palitha Range Bandara of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources & Disaster Management of Sri Lanka. Each representative reported the progress of a Platform on Water Resilience and Disasters in their countries. Then, a discussion followed on a regional cooperative framework among the participating countries. The session also set out concrete goals for AWCI’s contribution to SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework. Towards the end of the session, AWCI also had a joint session on water and agriculture with AsiaRiCE, a group focusing on agricultural issues, and talked about the promotion of interdisciplinary cooperation and collaboration.
On October 26, the symposium was concluded by adopting the Kyoto Statement, which summarizes the results of all the sessions held during the symposium. Please visit the addresses below for the related documents and the Kyoto Statement:
- Agenda and presentation materials at the AWCI session
https://geoss-ap-symp11.org/program_tg1.html
- Kyoto Statement 2018
https://geoss-ap-symp11.org/_public/Kyoto_Statement_2018_Final.pdf
 Participants in the AWCI session, held during the 11th GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium on October 24-25, 2018, at Kyoto, Japan |
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 A scene from the AWCI session |
 A joint meeting on water and agriculture between AWCI and AsiaRiCE |