The UN International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) at IDRC Davos 2008Wolfgang Eder, former UNESCO-Director “Earth Sciences”IYPE Representative of EuropeDavos, 26 August 2008

UN Year of Planet Earth UN Year of Planet Earth

20082008(2007(2007--2009)2009)

1

Why an International Year

– To demonstrate the great potential of the Earth sciences in the building of a safer, healthier and wealthier Society

– To encourage Society to apply this potential more effectively

– To increase the number of students at Universities

2

Who is behind it ?Who is behind it ?

– Initiated by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)

– Co-initiated by UNESCO’s Division of Earth Sciences

– International Geoscience Programme (IGCP)

– 12 Founding Partners, 26 Associate Partners

– Selected Nations: China, Russia, Brazil, Tanzania 2005

3

Understanding and Respectingthe Planet Earth

4

Danxia Landschaft, S-China

Danxia Landforms, South-China 5

„Dinos for ever“ -Das grosse Fressen

6

Natural Hazards

EarthquakesTsunamis

7

Volcanic eruptions

Pompeii

• 79 a.d.

8

Earthquakes

Bam, Iran26 Dec. 2003

Citadelle

9

Tsunami, Indian Ocean, 26 Dec. 2004

10

PublicationsPublications

11

Groundwater for a thurstyPlanet

12

– Resource and Reservoir– Peaceful Use– Clean Water

– Too muchor too littleWater

IDRC: FloodsHow toprotect ourcommunities ?

Geology & Health

13

- Contributingto a healthier,and saferenvironment

- Pollution: air, dust,water

„Medical Geology“

IDRC: ReducePandemics &Diseases

Soil – living skin of the Earth

– Rocks andgenerationof soils

– Agriculture(„Rocks and crops“)– Erosion– Land- and Rock-

slides

IDRC: Reductionof Landslide Risk

14

Resources and Energy, towards a sustainable use

– Oil, Gas– Coal– Minerals– Diamonds – Concrete,

Aggregates– Renewable

Energies, Geothermal

ICDR: Pollution, ConflictEcology-Economy

15

16

Chucicamata

Megacities

Global urban future,urban planning

Safer anddeeperconstructions

Disaster RiskReduction

Safe lifelinesClean water

ICDR: vulnerablesettlements, social impact,riots

17

18Rio de Janeiro

19

Los Angeles

Natural Hazards: Risk-Reduction & Awareness-Raising

20

– Earthquakes– Tsunamis– Volcanoes– Landslides– Floods– Hurricanes– Meteorites

ICDR: Early WarningSystems

Tsunami, Ind. Ocean

21

TEWS „Tsunami EarlyWarning System“

22

Natural Hazards: Lahars – Landslides

Nevado del Ruiz23

24

Pinatubo

25

Lahars

Natural Disasters: Risk evaluationLandslides, Machu Picchu

26

Natural Disasters

– Earthquakes

27

The Deep Earth

28

– From crustto core

– DynamicProcesses

– Plate Tectonics– Earth surface processes-- Deep Drilling

(ICDP - IODP)ICDR: Emergency

preparedness

SAFOD - ICDP

29

Oceans – Abyss of Time

30

– Continental Margins

– Oceanic Plateaus– Oceanic Circulation– Sea level changes– Ocean Drilling

(IODP, ODP)

ICDR: Risk of GlobalClimate Change

Climate, Global Change

31

„The Stone Tape“ – Fossil Archiveof Climate Change

– Palaeoclimate– Isotopes (C, O)– Sediments, icecores– Speleothems– Climate predictionGlobal Earth-Observation-Systems,Research in Arctic and Antarctic Regions

ICDR: Hurricanes, Glacier outbursts

Global Warming

International PolarYear (IPY)

32

Earth and Life

Origin of Diversity– Catastrophies:

Mass extinctionsin Earth‘s history

– Palaeo-Biodiversity:Plants and Animals

– History ofHumankind

ICDR: Dramatic changesof environment, impactsextraterrestric origin

33

Outreach Outreach –– bringing bringing Earth sciences to everyoneEarth sciences to everyone

34

35

National Committees IYPE1 April 2008

Global Launch IYPE

36

12 & 13 February 2008

Ministers, Leaders of Industry & top scientists

Sessions on Population growth & Climate Change, Earth Resources, Geo-hazards

100 Award winning students across the world

Check: www.yearofplanetearth.org/GLE

12 & 13 February 2008, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris

12 February: Hosted by UNESCO DGOpening Ceremony with Ministers (French, Chinese, Italian, Norwegian, Tanzanian, Egyptian) Heads of UN bodies

Paris Declaration

LunchCultural eventSession 1: Population growth & Climate Change

Global Launch Event ParisGeo-Hazards: minimizing risk, maximizing awareness

International Year of Planet Earth& IDRC: common goals

„To make the world a safer and better place to live on“ (K. Annan)

38

The UN International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) at IDRC Davos 2008 Wolfgang Eder, former UNESCO-Director “Earth Sciences”Why an International YearWho is behind it ?Understanding and Respecting the Planet EarthDanxia Landschaft, S-China„Dinos for ever“ - Das grosse FressenNatural HazardsVolcanic eruptionsEarthquakesTsunami, Indian Ocean, 26 Dec. 2004PublicationsGroundwater for a thursty PlanetGeology & HealthSoil – living skin of the EarthResources and Energy, towards a sustainable useChucicamataMegacitiesLos AngelesNatural Hazards: Risk-Reduction & Awareness-RaisingTsunami, Ind. OceanTEWS „Tsunami Early Warning System“Natural Hazards: Lahars – LandslidesLaharsNatural Disasters: Risk evaluation Landslides, Machu PicchuNatural DisastersThe Deep EarthSAFOD - ICDPOceans – Abyss of TimeClimate, Global ChangeGlobal WarmingEarth and LifeOutreach – bringing Earth sciences to everyoneNational Committees IYPE1 April 2008Global Launch IYPEGlobal Launch Event ParisGeo-Hazards: minimizing risk, maximizing awarenessInternational Year of Planet Earth& IDRC: common goals