France: UNESCO launches the International Year of Planet Earth

The International Year of Planet Earth aims to capture people?s imagination with the exciting knowledge we possess about our planet, and to see that knowledge used to make the Earth a safer, healthier and wealthier place for our children and grandchildren International Year of Planet Earth 2007-2009

What is the International Year of Planet Earth?
The International Year of Planet Earth aims to ensure greater and more effective use by society of the knowledge accumulated by the world?s 400,000 Earth scientists. The Year?s ultimate goal of helping to build safer, healthier and wealthier societies around the globe is expressed in the Year?s subtitle ?Earth science for Society?.
The International Year runs from January 2007 to December 2009, the central year of the triennium (2008) having been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the UN Year. The UN sees the Year as a contribution to their sustainable development targets as it promotes wise (sustainable) use of Earth materials and encourages better planning and management to reduce risks for the world?s inhabitants.

Who is behind the International Year?
The International Year of Planet Earth is a joint initiative by UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Twelve Founding Partners, 26 Associate Partners and a growing number of International Partner organisations from all continents and representing all major geoscientific communities in the world, have embarked on this initiative. The Year also enjoys the full political support of 191 UN countries. By the end of 2007, National Committees will have been established in some 70 countries and regions in the world.

How does it work?
The main activities of the International Year of Planet Earth operate within its Science and Outreach programmes. Funding for projects in both programmes is sought from industry, Foundations and governments worldwide. Both programmes essentially operate in a response, or ?bottomup? mode.

The Science Programme consists of 10 broad, societally relevant and multidisciplinary themes: health, climate, groundwater, ocean, soils, deep Earth, megacities, hazards, resources, and life. Brochures on each of these themes are available in hard copy, and can be downloaded from the Year?s website. Scientists from all countries of the world are invited to submit Expressions of Interest (EoIs) dedicated to specific questions within each theme.

More info:
http://yearofplanetearth.org