International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

Box 2 International Polar Year Joint Committee (IPY JC)
Terms of Reference (TOR)
(Approved by ICSU and WMO, 20 November 2004)
The International Polar Year Joint Committee is appointed
by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for a period
until the end of 2009. The IPY JC consists of two Co-Chairs
and no more than 12 additional members appointed by
ICSU and WMO. In addition, SCAR, IASC and IOC have
been invited to nominate ex officio representatives. The
Executive Heads of ICSU and WMO each appointed an
ex officio member of the Committee. The Co-Chairs can
invite additional persons to attend sessions for specific
agenda items as necessary.
The Joint Committee shall be responsible for scientific
planning, coordination, guidance and oversight of the
IPY. In performing its functions, it will be supported
by an International Programme Office. It should work
closely with all relevant organizations and National IPY
Committees/contact persons. The IPY JC shall meet at
least twice a year.
The specific tasks of the IPY JC are:
1) To define Core Projects based on the IPY Science Plan
and submissions received.
2) To develop and keep under continuous review an
implementation plan for the IPY in close consultation
with National Polar Programs and other appropriate
bodies and to ensure that the plan develops in such a
way as to make optimal use of available resources.
3) To establish a mechanism for the design, guidance,
development and oversight of the IPY projects,
including for example, Project Steering Committees
for Core Projects and Subcommittees for Data Policy
and Management, and for Education, Outreach and
Communication.
tasked to formulate the Terms of Reference for that
subcommittee and report back to the JC.
The JC agreed that engaging the political and
governmental communities, including the Antarctic
Treaty Parties and Arctic Council (AC) was important,
but concerns were raised about politicizing a sciencedriven
committee. Following the JC-1 meeting (on 24
March 2005), Vitaly Churkin, then Chairman of Senior
Arctic Officials (SAO) of the Arctic Council, wrote to
Thomas Rosswall (ICSU) and Michel Jarraud (WMO),
requesting AC representation on the JC. In May 2005,
4) To provide leadership in developing IPY data policy
and data management protocols.
5) To promote the IPY goal and objectives, its deliberations
and achievements through development of
education and outreach programs in order to attract
new generation of polar scientists and technologists,
and to capture the interest of the general public and
decision-makers in polar regions.
6) To encourage the active participation of other
relevant organizations in the IPY.
7) To convene sessions of an IPY Open Consultative
Forum to which all stakeholders will be invited.
The Forum will serve as a consultative process for
expressions of views on the IPY development, as a
platform for dialogue among the various stakeholders
and as a venue for exchange of information on IPY
development. The Forum should be convened at least
once per year.
8) To raise additional funds for the planning and
coordination activities, including activities of
subcommittees that the IPY JC may wish to set up
and to assist in convincing national and international
funding bodies to fully support the Core Project of
the IPY.
9) To provide oversight and guidance to the activities
of the IPY International Programme Office.
10) To report to ICSU and WMO Executive Bodies on
the IPY organization and implementation after each
meeting of the IPY JC.
http://classic.ipy.org/international/joint-committee/
terms.htm
the ICSU Executive Board, having weighed the JC
views and the request from the AC, decided to invite
the AC and the Antarctic Treaty Parties to appoint one
Observer each to the JC, pending WMO approval,
which was subsequently given. The AC nominated
the Chair of SAO, Vitaly Churkin, as its representative.
The Antarctic Treaty Parties appointed the Head of the
Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, Johannes Huber, as their
representative. 8
Also considered was a proposal for a “Eurasian IPY
Project Office” based in St. Petersburg with financial
P l a n n I n g a n d I m P l e m e n t I n g I P Y 2 0 0 7–2 0 0 8 91