(6th meeting) Sixteenth session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)

Good afternoon. I call to order the sixth and concluding meeting of the 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. As announced at the end of our meeting this morning, the committee will now consider continue its consideration of agenda item 16, entitled Standardization of Geographical Names and Collaboration with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names, to hear the remaining speakers in the discussion. I wish to recall that the list of speakers closed this morning. Before giving the floor to the first speaker on the list, I kindly remind all speakers of the time limit of one minute and 30 seconds. The microphone will automatically cut off after one minute and 45 seconds. Further, I would like to encourage you to deliver abbreviated versions of your statements and to send the full version to e-statements@un.org for publication in the UN journal. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you, Chair. I give this shortened intervention on behalf of UNGDG in Europe. UNGGIM Europe notes the report provided by the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names and supports the continued progress made by the Group of Experts for the collaborative project between UN GEGN and UNGGIM. UNGGIM Europe supports and encourages national contributions to the World Geographical Names Database, thereby improving the governance and integration and use of geographical names within national geospatial information management arrangements. The complete intervention will be sent to the Secretariat. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway and give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Bahamas.

Thank you, Chair. The Bahamas takes note of the present report and supports the work of the activities of UNGEGEN conducted during the intersessional period to implement decision 15/114, which focuses on the development of geographical names through standardization and collaboration. We take note of the progress of the collaborative project between the committee and group of experts and commend the divisions on their achievements thus far. We find the compendium to be both practical and invaluable for the implementation of the geographical names data theme. Geographical names would be the 11th of the 14th global fundamental geospatial data themes of which the Bahamas is developing. Member states and experts are strongly encouraged to participate in the substantive program and divisions of the group of experts. The Bahamas supports the need for national contributions to the world geographical names database and looks forward to making a further contribution in the future. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Bahamas. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador.

Ecuador thanks the group of experts for the report presented and welcomes the progress made with strengthening collaboration between the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management and the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names. Ecuador recognizes that the standardization of geographical names is essential for strengthening the quality, interoperability and availability of geospatial information. Ecuador reaffirms that the standardization of geographical names is a fundamental component of national geospatial information infrastructure. It contributes to land management, the preservation of geographical and cultural heritage, and to evidence-based public policy making. In this context, the Military Geographical Institute, as the national authority for cartography and geodesy, and as Ecuador's focal point to UN-GEIGN, continues to strengthen the national process for the standardization of geographical names. And we work to establish standardized criteria for the collection, registration, validation and use of official geographical names.

From Ecuador, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative from Belgium.

Thank you, co-chair.

The Kingdom of Belgium welcomes the report and the progress made as part of the cooperation between UNGGIM and UN Gigan, namely the compendium on effective effective institutional arrangements and operational practices for geographical names management. This compendium can be an invaluable input to strengthen governance, coordination and interoperability between national authorities working on geospatial information and authorities responsible for geographical names. It's important that this compendium reflects the variety of national mechanisms rather than simply prescribing a single institutional model. We also welcome the initiative taken to examine the use of eye in the standardization and management of geographical names. We encourage member states to actively contribute to this survey. It can provide valuable insight into emerging practices, opportunities, challenges, including quality assurance, cultural sensitivity, and respect for national naming conventions. We encourage UN GIGN to make the results accessible in several languages. This includes good practices and supporting materials from both initiatives so that these can be reused by Member States and regional communities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. I will deliver my intervention in Spanish.

Chile takes note of the report of UNGE. We're grateful for it and for the progress made with the implementation of its strategic plan for 2021-2029. We particularly value the initiatives for capacity building and to ensure interoperability of data using emerging technologies through including AI. Against this backdrop, we underscore the workshop held on standards for interoperability that was held in Santiago de Chile this year. That workshop served to build regional capacity in terms of geographical names. Chile supports the cooperation between UN-GIG and UN-GGIM and recognizes the value of the compendium on effective institutional arrangements and operational practices in order to strengthen geographical names management. This in accordance with UN-GIG and the fundamental global themes selected for geospatial information. Updated information from Member States is vital to strengthen the global database of geographical names and the interoperability of geospatial data in order to support the SDGs. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, co-chairs. Indonesia welcomes the compendium of good practices for cooperation between national geospatial agencies and geographical names authorities. Clear institutional arrangements are needed to ensure that official names are consistently collected, standardized, maintained, and disseminated. Indonesia support for the consideration of a universal unique identifier for cities, provided that it complements nationally authorized names and classification. Standardization must also respect cultural heritage, indigenous communities, local languages, and linguistic diversity, while technology should help preserve and make this diversity more accessible. Finally, Indonesia also thanks the United States of America for its guidance and collaborative efforts during the project. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guyana.

Thank you, co-chair. Guyana takes note of the report and expresses its gratitude. UNGEEN for its compilation. Guyana appreciates and recognizes the need for standardization, collaboration, and coherence between agencies that produce national spatial geospatial information. Guiana coming from a background of six races and nine indigenous tribes with many related settlements, rivers and mountains recognizes the role of geographical names in supporting sustainable development and inclusiveness of all our people. Guiana further opens the geographical names among indigenous people usually follows a story behind the name, capturing the story gives credence to the process and provides legitimacy. Guiana sees the importance of the implementation of geographical names data team of the global fundamental geospatial data team and supports its alignment with standards and guidelines particularly as it relates to cultural heritage and indigenous diversity. Guyana sees capacity development especially training in toponymy as its most important need to modernize and update its current gazetteer of names of places in Guyana to integrate geographical names into national spatial data infrastructure and to address the correctness and inclusion of indigenous names in their own language while ensuring that there is legal and policy frameworks that support such actions. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Barbados.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Barbados thanks the Group of Experts on Geographical Names for the report and the continued efforts to strengthen the work on geographical names. We also extend our sincere appreciation for the support that enabled Barbados to participate in the capacity building workshop held in June, 2026. That opportunity has strengthened our national efforts and reinforced the value of international cooperation. For Barbados, the standardization of geographical names goes hand in hand with our commitment to preserving our cultural heritage, strengthening our national identity, and advancing progress on a national addressing system. Geographic names are more than reference points. They reflect our history, our people, and our shared heritage. We also welcome the continued efforts to encourage the participation of small island developing states in the work, and Barbados looks forward to contributing actively to this important initiative. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Barbados. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eurogeographics.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Eurogeographics would like to draw the committee's attention to its open gazetteer developed in partnership with Germany's Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy. which provides authoritative multilingual geographical names data compiled from Europe's national mapping, cadastre and land registration authorities. As presented by Germany at the Young Geeks session in 2025, the Gazetteer now covers more than 60 languages and is compliant with the inspired data specification on geographical names. Eurogeographics considers the Open Gazetteer a practical pan-European example of the kind of national contribution to authoritative geographical names data envisaged under the World Geographical Names Database. I would be pleased to share our experience and lessons learned, including with a compendium of effective institutional arrangement and operational practices. We inform the committee that this gazetteer is openly available via the Open Maps for you reporter together with the documentation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Eurogeographics. We've heard the last speaker in the discussion on this item. I wish to recall that the list closed this morning. I now invite Mr. Mark Iliff, Geospatial Information Officer at the Global Geospatial Information Management Section of the UNSD, to summarize the main points of the discussion.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee of experts welcomed the report of the United Nations group of experts on geographical names, including its efforts to advance the standardisation of geographical names and implement its strategic plan and programme of work 2021 to 2029. The committee commended the collaborative work of the committee of experts and the group of experts in preparing the document entitled Compendium on Effective Institutional Arrangements and Operational Practices for Geographical Names Management, which presents national experiences and good practices in the implementation of geographical names management aligned with the nine strategic pathways of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework as a guide for countries to enhance their capacities. The Committee called for the comprehensive implementation of the geographical names theme of the global fundamental geospatial data themes and in this regard reaffirmed the indispensable role of geographical names in supporting national and regional efforts of sustainable development, the preservation of cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge systems, linguistic diversity and enabling equitable evidence-based decision-making. The Committee emphasized the value of deepened and enduring collaboration between the Committee of Experts and the Group of Experts, including between UNGGI and regional committees and the Group of Experts' geographical and linguistic divisions. The Committee also encouraged active participation in the Group's work concerning the use of artificial intelligence, in the context of geographical name standardization and management so countries can enhance their efforts on AI readiness. And finally, the committee encouraged national contributions to the World Geographical Names Database as a means of implementing mandates relating to the universal unique identifiers for cities, thereby supporting governance, multilingualism, interoperability, and integration of geographical names within national geospatial information management arrangements. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank Mr. Iliff and all of the delegations for their valuable contributions to the interesting exchange of views on this item. The committee has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 16. I now invite the Committee of Experts to begin its consideration of agenda item 18, entitled Program Management Report. I give the floor to Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Acting Director of UNSD and Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to present an oral report of the Secretariat on program management.

Thank you, Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and esteemed colleagues. At this 16th meeting of the UNGGIM, we have had the participation of 78 Member States and a total of 358 participants. So it seems appropriate to let me begin by thanking the Member States, the Bureau, the functional groups, our partners, and all contributors for your continued engagement, commitment, and leadership. Your expertise, collaboration and strategic direction remain essential to the committee's achievements and provide valuable direction to UNST's work on global geospatial information management. I would also like to thank the donors whose generous financial and in-kind contributions in 25-26 have supported our geospatial work at the Secretariat. including through the UN GGCE and the UN GGKIC. Both of these centers are now fully operational and we are making good progress towards establishing the UN Global Geospatial Ecosystem Center of Excellence. Together, the Secretariat and the centers help connect normative guidance with tangible country level outcomes. strengthening the cycle from norm setting to knowledge exchange to country impact and back again in the other direction. Dear colleagues, as we enter the final years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, I would like to highlight three priorities. First, we must expand the impact of our work where it matters and for whom it matters the most. The global UN IGIF implementation survey confirms that countries understand the importance of Earth observations in advancing national priorities alongside global agendas. As more country action plans are prepared and linked to sustainable development outcomes, our focus becomes sharper. This timely shift from awareness raising to meeting concrete country demand requires us to design our work flexibly around expressed needs, rather than producing immaculate products that will remain on the shelf. Second, we must forge closer and more pragmatic connections across all communities working with data for sustainable development. Stronger engagement across the United Nations system anchors geospatial information in multilateral priorities and serves as a cross-domain force multiplier for capacity development, policy support, and monitoring. Likewise, more systematic integration across statistical and geospatial disciplines is equally important, given their complementarities in implementation, assessment, and reporting. Such engagement will also be essential as we respond to AI and other rapidly changing technologies. Together, these efforts can keep the committee's guidance frameworks and methodologies as living instruments, responsive to technological advances and emerging priorities, but remaining practical and accessible to all countries. Third, we must communicate more strategically. As global deliberations converge towards 2030, we must be present in key discussions, including the high level political forum, the post 2030 agenda, and debates such as those on measures beyond GDP, which tailored messages that are convincing and memorable. Part of our objective here is to create the advocates in the room who will speak for us when we are not there. Most immediately, the third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the 16th to 19th November this year offers an important opportunity to extend our reach well beyond the geospatial community. The Congress will engage policymakers, ministers, development specialists, financing institutions, academia, innovators, researchers, the UN system, and the private sector. Our objective must be not only to showcase geospatial excellence, but also to demonstrate why geospatial information is indispensable for better public policies, stronger public digital infrastructure, better informed investment, and tangible outcomes for people and planet. Let me conclude by noting that recruitment restrictions due to financial constraints in the UN regular budget have made it extremely difficult to fill regular budget vacancies, even as the number of posts has declined across all of the Statistics Division and all of DESA over the past year. The committee is also aware that the extra budgetary resources that have supported travel by participants from developing countries are now close to exhaustion and will be used up by the end of this year. Voluntary contributions can be made through standard instruments and agreements with UNDESA, and my team would be happy to facilitate this process if of interest. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Mukherjee. I recommend that the committee take note of the oral report on program management presented by Mr. Mukherjee. I hear no objection. It is so decided. The commission has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 18. The Committee will now begin its consideration of agenda item 19, entitled Provisional agenda and dates for the seventeenth session. Under this item, the Committee has before it a note by the Secretariat entitled Draft provisional agenda for the seventeenth session, contained in document E/C.20/2026/L.1. I give the floor to Mr. Guillaume Lassour to introduce this draft provisional agenda.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor on this agenda item 19, provisional agenda and dates for the-- It's recurring. Provisional agenda and dates for the 17th of the 17th session. Note that on the first day of the session, the Committee of Experts agreed to strengthen the strategic prioritization and oversight and develop a multi-year program of work. And as such, that the Bureau has been entrusted with prioritizing and streamlining the program of work of the Committee, as well as organizing proposed multi-year program. Noting the decision, the proposed agenda before the committee will be further reviewed and prioritized by the Bureau with revisions to the agenda done and issuance ahead of the 17th session in line with past practice. Kindly note that we will also amend the omission on agenda item 10 to include the missing word disaster so that it reads as follows, agenda item 10 on climate, environment, and disaster resilience. We apologize for the inconvenience. Finally, please note that the 17th session of the Committee of Experts will take place from 4th to 6th of August, 2027. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank Mr. Lesur. May I take it that the committee wishes to approve the draft provisional agenda for the 17th session of the Committee of Experts? as contained in document E/C.20/2026/L.1 as orally revised and recommend it to the Economic and Social Council for final adoption. I hear no objections. It is so decided. I now invite the committee to consider the dates for its 17th session. May I take it that the committee wishes to recommend to the Economic and Social Council that its 17th session be held from the 4th to the 6th of August 2027? I hear no objection. It is so decided. The committee has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 19. We've come to the last item on our agenda, item 20. entitled Report of the Committee of Experts on its 16th session. I give the floor to our distinguished rapporteur, Ms. Meziene Hicks, to introduce the draft report contained in document E/C.20/2026/L.2 and the informal paper consisting of two parts. Part one has been distributed before you. Part two will be distributed as soon as available.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to present the draft report of the 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management contained in document E/C.20/2026/L.2. and in an informal paper which consists of two parts. Part one of the informal paper has been uploaded on the GGIM website of its 16th session and distributed in the conference room this morning. Part two will be available and distributed soon. The report will be considered in several parts. The report in document L.2 contains information on the organizational part of the meetings of our 16th session and will be updated and completed as required. In addition, the proceedings of today's meetings, including action on the draft decisions contained in the informal paper, will be reflected in the final report. With regard to section D on attendance, I would like to point out that those delegations who have provided information on their participation are currently reflected in the provisional list of participants. which is available on the website of the committee. Those delegations that are not on the list or have corrections to make are kindly reminded to transmit the changes via e-delegate for members and observer states and for all participants to the UN GGIM Secretariat via email frani@un.org. Finally, I would like to inform that the report will be streamlined to comply with the mandatory 10% reduction in word count due to the deal with the liquidity constraints currently facing the organization. To comply with this reduction, we will now follow the practice of other committees linking to the summary of our discussions on iGov. With that, Madam Chair, I commend the draft report to the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management for its adoption. Thank you.

I thank our distinguished rapporteur. I propose that the committee consider the various parts of the draft procedural report and informal paper in turn. Accordingly, may I ask if there are any comments on the organizational part of the draft report contained in document L.2, which you have before you? Okay. I see no request for the floor. I now invite the committee to consider the informal paper with the draft decisions contained therein. We will start with the informal paper part one. In accordance with the committee's working methods, I will ask for comments on each draft decision outlined in the document. Are there any comments on the draft decision 16/101 entitled Enhancing Global Geospatial Information Management Arrangements? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Based on the statements from Denmark and many other Member States, the following proposed amendments seem to better reflect the seriousness of the Secretariat's current resource situation and the importance consistently attached to this issue by many Member States, both at the present and previous meetings of the Committee. The Secretariat was initially allocated seven professional geospatial posts to enable to discharge its normative coordination and intergovernmental responsibilities effectively, and this is now reduced to four posts. So filling these posts is essential to fulfill those responsibilities, we think. So the following proposed language aims to underline this aim. So this is regarding paragraph d, which is related to this topic. So we suggest adding the word critical in the first line just before importance. So it reads underscored the critical importance. And then we suggest Yes, and we suggest changing the word maintaining adequate to delivering adequate secretarial resources. And we suggest noting with serious concern instead of just concern. And then we suggest adding a small paragraph after the sentence which finishes with the committee's normative and coordination work, and it reads, urged the filling of the four vacant professional geospatial posts as a matter of priority, particularly in the light of the secretariat's growing coordination, governance and oversight responsibilities, including for the United Nations Global Geospatial Centres. And that is our complete suggestion.

I thank the distinguished representative of Denmark. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you. Our proposed amendment is regarding letter C. I first read what is the original text. C agreed to strengthen the strategic and oversight. And here is our proposed amendment to insert after the comma, including the organization of the annual sessions, comma. And that is that.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Yes, thank you, Chair. Our recommended addition is also in paragraph C as in Charlie. We're recommending an insertion after the final sentence ending in capacity development program, but before the semicolons, a program period. We're asking to add the sentence, in this regard, comma, we recommend that this, occur during the intercessional period of the 16th session semicolon. So again, in this regard, comma, we recommend that this occur during the intercessional period of the 16th session semicolons.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Going back to paragraph D, is it? Yes. Echoing the sentiments of Norway, and I'd also like to include two missing words after filling of the four, that after the number four should be vacant or professional, yeah, four, the number four, yeah, right. for vacant professional posts. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey. Thank

you, co-chair. We would like to present that we support Denmark's proposal on paragraph D. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Chile supports Denmark's and Jamaica's proposed modification for 15101 letter D.

I thank the distinguished representative from Chile. I give the floor to the distinguished representative from Belgium.

Belgium supports the proposals made by Canada and Jamaica. Denmark. Pardon. Apologies, Denmark.

I thank the distinguished representative from Belgium. I give the floor back to the distinguished representative from Denmark.

Thank you very much. I am not sure if you were condensing what I read out, but I have a little amendment. I'll just read it out again. And so it actually read urged the filling of the four vacant professional geospatial posts as a matter of priority, particularly in the light of the Secretariat's growing coordination, governance and oversight responsibilities, including for the United Nations global geospatial centers. Yeah, pretty good. So I think there is an end missing from the secretariat's growing coordination, governance and oversight. Yes, thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative from Denmark, and I would like to make a note. Due to a technical error, you will notice that on your report you may see decision 15/101. We will make the correction throughout. to reflect that we are making decisions related to the 16th session. Thank you. Okay, now let's move to the next speaker. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Argentina supports the proposal made by Denmark and Norway.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina and give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Madam President, the Kingdom of the Netherlands would like to support the suggested text from the representative of Denmark, and we have no objections to the other suggestions.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Netherlands. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Indonesia supports the proposal made by from Denmark. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. Okay. I now invite the secretariat to respond to the comments made. None. Okay. Thank you to the secretariat. Then draft decision 16/101 is adopted as orally revised. Okay. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/102 entitled Contribution of Regional Committees to the Global Geospatial Information Agenda? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Austria.

We have a recommendation that in point E, line two.

Regional priorities promoting the benefits of geospatial information um could be extended with regional priorities impartial promoting the benefits.

Of geospatial information thank you Mr. chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Okay. I thank the distinguished representative of Austria. Draft decision 16/102 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/103? contribution of thematic networks to the global geospatial information agenda. Okay. Let's see Belgium. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belgium.

Belgium suggests adding in paragraph B, on the last line, program of work of the committee of experts and the regional committees and to advance, et cetera. The last part of B, paragraph B. Oh, sorry. I was too quickly. I withdraw my proposal.

Thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. Then draft decision 16103 is adopted. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/104 future geospatial information ecosystem entitled no future geospatial information ecosystem. Okay, draft decision 16/104 is adopted. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/105 entitled United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework? give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Section C is in Charlie. United States would recommend an addition in the last sentence in the portion where it says during the intercessional period in close cooperation with the high level group, we'd like to insert four words and its strategic teams comma. So with the high level group insertion and its strategic teams comma. subsection C, last sentence, in close cooperation with high level group. And we wanted to insert it after close cooperation with the high level group.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you.

Chile suggests an addition to decision point C to include at the end the following sentence:.

The updated suite of documents should be made available in all official languages of the United Nations.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Argentina supports Chile's proposal.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina. Draft decision 16/105 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/106 entitled Global Geodetic Reference Frame? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

The first amendment is to point letter A in the fifth line beginning with across the cadastre land and sea domains insert also. That's the first amendment. The next amendment is to letter D. Recognize that the proposed consultation on the option for then delete and so it will read for the option for international governance for geodesy would require financial resources to be mobilized. Delete the rest of the other point. Then to letter E. In the. Fourth line. Beginning with frequency bands used by very long baseline interferometry comma. And the insertion which reads and urge member states to engage with their national spectrum authorities ahead of the and delete the original text until World Radio Communication Conference in 2027 and add at the end to ensure the protect. Okay, sorry, I have to go a little slower. Um, and urge member states to engage with their national spectrum authorities ahead of the then you can delete until yes world radio communication conference in insert in before 2027 and after 20 yeah to ensure the protection of vlb frequencies and thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you chair oh I'm sorry would like to add a sentence maybe a new paragraph I'm sorry. I lost it. I'm very sorry. It's late.

We can come back to you in a minute.

Yes, I'm sorry.

No problem. Let's move, please, to give the floor to the distinguished representative from Belgium.

I will talk in English, that's easier. I would propose not to remove the last part of paragraph d, because I think it's important that we keep that there, but I would however remove the word 'would'. It would not require, it requires the financial. So Guillaume, I'm saying the opposite, not to remove compared to what you wrote in the comments, Nor and Belgium. So my proposal is to leave the phrase. But remove the word, yes. That's my proposal. So like you have it there is what I recommend. Yes. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. And I'd like to ask if the distinguished representative from the Netherlands would like to contribute.

Yes, I will do it by heart then. We had a sentence in our own statement that said that we encourage Member States to develop their own capacity building on DODC supply chain because national strength means also international possibilities.

If I can just maybe ask first Norway regarding the comment from Belgium and then if I can ask again the comment from Netherlands. Apologies, thank you. Can I ask in the interim that the Netherlands provide again the additional point? Thank you.

Yes, I will do it. I have now the new text that we had. Member States are encouraged to strengthen national geodetic governance, recognising that effective international governance depends on effective national arrangements. Member States are encouraged to strengthen national geodetic governance, recognises that effective international governance depends on effective national arrangements. national geodetic governance, recognising that effective international governance depends on effective national arrangements. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and I'd like to now invite the Secretariat to respond if necessary.

Can I just have clarification on the Norway and Belgium, and then we do start with sentences with a verb. So just regarding the comment from Netherlands, thank you.

I thank the Secretariat. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belgium.

We have a common position where the sentence stays, but there will be added "including to be able to undertake" just before the phrase that was removed. So it stays, but it's "including to be able to undertake". It's maybe very bad English, but what we mean is that the money is not limited to be not the required funding is necessary also to be able to undertake and not limited to the undertaking of the preparatory work. That's what we want to express. So I leave it to the secretariat to express it in a correct English phrase. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. And prior to confirming with Norway, I'd like to ask the Secretariat if you would like to respond or can I go right to Norway? Okay. For the distinguished representative of Norway, will you please confirm you agree with the wording provided by Belgium?

Yes. Yes, we agree.

Thank you. I'd now like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

United States would like to second the recommendations of Norway and Belgium. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. And I now give the floor to the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

Madam Chair, I would like to seek the clarification from the Netherlands regarding the sentence starting with the verb as practice. Thank you.

I thank the Secretariat. Will the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands please confirm?

Yes, I can.

Thank you very much. Seeing no other comments draft decision. 16 slash one zero six is adopted as orally revised. Oh, okay. I'd like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway to ask if your comment relates to decision 16/106.

Yes, but.

Okay, just a minute, please. Just one minute. Thank you. With the permission of the committee, we will reopen this item unless Oh, you sustain. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Then no need to reopen. And so now we'll move on to the next draft decision. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/107, geospatial information for sustainable development? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belgium.

Belgium asked for the communication materials to be available in several languages, so it would be nice to see that reflected in the text, please. So I suggest an addition to paragraph B where we say communication materials in multiple languages. Thank you, please.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. Then draft decision 16 slash 107 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16 slash 108 entitled Geospatial Information for Climate, Environment and Disaster Resilience? to give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Thank you chair as South Africa would like a correctional insertion of on paragraph one on a after and thanks to include the holistic team writing team there so that we can be able to recognize the contribution of the holistic writing team on the first line the holistic writing team just before the we can group the second one okay?

I'd like to give the secretariat an opportunity to respond please okay.

Thank you Madam chair uh there was no writing team that was really explicitly established by the committee of expert. The Bureau was entrusted to lead with other members. It's, I think, maybe the holistic, the team entrusted to write the report, maybe some formulation around that. If I can just maybe suggest that we phrase it like this. Thank you.

I thank the Secretariat. I'd like to ask the distinguished representative of South Africa, rather than expressing thanks to the holistic writing team, we review the draft wording that Guillaume is typing on the screen. And I'd like to ask Guillaume to please read that once he's finished. Guillaume, could you please read that aloud for the group? Thank you.

Yes, thank you. I would be suggesting welcome the holistic report background documents and thanked the team entrusted to write the holistic report, the working group on geospatial information for disaster risk management, et cetera. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the Secretariat. I'd like to give the distinguished representative from South Africa the opportunity to confirm.

Thank you, Chair. We can confirm that we are fine with it.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica.

So we, Jamaica recognizes the edits to section A and agrees what, echoes what South Africa would have put forward.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. And I'd like to check with the distinguished representative of South Africa.

South Africa was still highlighting other proposed in session. So if you allow me out, I would like to complete my proposed in session.

Yes, please proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. On item number B, we would like to add the word just after further review, we would like to add the word by the repurposed working group. And we propose that B becomes C, then C becomes B. We introduce first the repurposing, then after we talk about the working plan or the work plan.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I'd like to see if the Secretariat would like to respond. No, thank you to the Secretariat. Dear colleagues, we can see that someone would like to intervene. However, we're showing seat number 2513, not a country name, so. Is there other than Turkey who just popped up? Who else signaled that they like to intervene? Antigua and Barbuda. Great. We got it. Okay. It's working. So go to them next. Yes. Okay. I'd like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Antigua and Barbuda. Thank you.

Antigua and Barbuda would like to insert in the topic for 16 slash one zero eight.

Geospatial information for climate, environment, and resilience.

Please insert disaster. Between and and resilience.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Antigua and Barbuda. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Actually, there was a proposed modification between B and C. So let me just read my, our proposal. Reformulation of the existing work group on geospatial information for disaster risk management into a working group on environment, climate and disaster resilience with a view to addressing the topic in a comprehensive and holistic manner, while drawing on the participation, expertise and contributions of members of the previous working groups and task teams under this agenda item, including those involved in the preparation of the holistic report. Yes, it's a long sentence, but This is our suggestion.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey. I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make sure that I capture correctly the comment made by Turkey correctly. And I also would just maybe like to I hope there was no change to the the top the name of the working group that's proposed that I would assume would be in alignment with the agenda item but if I can have a detailed reread of the comment please thank you.

I thank the Secretariat I give the floor back to the distinguished representative of Torquay and request that you reread your statement slowly Thank you.

Thank you. Reformulation of the existing work group on geospatial information for disaster risk management into a working group on environment, climate and disaster resilience. With a view to addressing the topic. Topic. In a comprehensive and holistic manner. While drawing on the participation. Participation. Comma expertise and. contributions of members of the previous working groups and task teams under this agenda item, including those involved in the preparation of the holistic report. including those involved in the preparation of the holistic report.

I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to again maybe request Turkey to have the working group name spelled once again. My understanding that it would be in alignment with the agenda item. Thank you.

I thank the Secretariat and I ask the distinguished representative from Turkey to respond.

It is same with the agenda item name. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica.

Jamaica supports the suggestion and insertions by Turkey and also that that was mentioned by Antigua and Barbuda. And also the edit on the working group on disaster risk management in B. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. Seeing no other comments, draft decision 15/108 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/109 entitled Integration of Geospatial, Statistical, and Other Related Information? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Chair. I'd like to suggest inclusion of another item of decision to reflect the discussions that you had yesterday on the floor by several member states. My suggestion is recognize it, the 2030 round of population and housing census. as a critical opportunity to advance the implementation of the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework and emphasized taking account disparities in capacities among countries, the need to mobilize adequate resource and strengthen capacity development for the effective implementation of the GSTF. further recognize its importance in supporting the delivery of the transitional agenda during its remaining years and informing the post-transitional development agenda.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil and I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

I would be grateful if we can indicate the paragraph and the formulation again, thank you.

I thank the Secretariat. Please, the delegate from Brazil, will you please indicate which paragraph you are referring to?

Yeah, an additional one, letter A, E.

Okay, a new paragraph E. Yeah. And now will you please very slowly repeat your intervention, very slowly. Okay, we need the microphone, please.

Recognize it, the 2030 round of population housing census, population housing census, as a critical opportunity to advance the implementation of the GSTF and emphasized taking into account disparities in capacity among countries for member states, maybe it's better, among countries, the need to mobilize adequate resource and strength capacity development for the effective implementation of the GSTF. Further, recognize its importance in supporting the delivery of the transitional agenda during its remaining years, and informing the post-2030 development agenda.

I thank the distinguished representative from Brazil. I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made, if necessary. Okay, I thank the Secretariat. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative from Ireland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Ireland supports Brazil in the insertion of this paragraph.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Okay.

Yeah. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chile supports Brazil's proposed addition of point E. Thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

I would like to refer to the paragraph B, the last portion, how the framework is used to support national and regional statistical systems. Here, I would like to suggest how the framework is used to support integrated statistical and geospatial information systems at national and regional levels.

I'd like to confirm that the delegation from India, is your intervention complete? Yeah, it's complete. Okay, thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative from Turkey.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Turkey supports the proposal suggested by Brazil regarding the 2030 round of population and housing censuses. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative from Turkey. Okay. Draft decision 16/109 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/110 entitled Integrated Geospatial Information for Effective Land Administration? Oh, wait a minute. No, we're not there yet. That's part two. Let's go a little bit further and I'll ask, are there any comments on draft decision 16/115 entitled Contribution of United Nations Global Geospatial Centers Away from Headquarters to Enhancing Global Geospatial Information Management Arrangements? Draft decision 16/115 is adopted. Dear colleagues, I was informed that part two of the informal paper is available and has been distributed in the room. I hence suspend the meeting for a 15 minute break to ensure that all delegations have copies of part two of the informal paper. It's been posted on the website of the 16th session of UNGGIM and has just now been distributed in the conference room. The meeting is suspended. And now I would like to request that all UNGGIM ladies in the room very quickly go out to the stairwell for our traditional photo that we take every year and then quickly come back in and start reviewing your drafts. Please and thank you.

Play all songs of CID. Play all songs of CID. Play all songs of CID. Thank you. Play all songs of the drama company. Play all songs of the drama company. Play trailer of the movie, 'Love Actually'. Play all songs of CID. Play all songs of CID. Play all songs of CID. Play all songs of CID. Play all songs of CID. Play trailer of the movie, 'Love Actually'.

Dear colleagues, let's please reconvene. We will now turn to part two of the informal paper. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/110 entitled Integrated Geospatial Information for Effective Land Administration and Management? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you, Mrs. Chair. I have one word, two words to add, so that can't go wrong this time. On the C, the first sentence, the third line, which starts with Member States in navigating, aligning and applying existing, and it would like two words, land administration frameworks. Otherwise, they would have to cover all the frameworks, which is a bit ambitious. Thank you, Chair. That was it.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Netherlands. Okay. Draft decision 16/110 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/111, integrated marine geospatial information? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will speak in Arabic and then I will continue in English. If we look at paragraph after the last word development, to add the following, and I suggest the following. We reiterate the importance of benefiting from the historical sequences of marine and topographical and coastal maps where appropriate after necessary amendments are made and linking them geodetically to national and global geodetic references as important reference sources for geospatial marine geospatial marine systems and in line with UNCLOS. Shall I read it for you in English?

Also, in phase, the importance of utilizing historical series of nautical charts, topographic and coastal maps were appreciated following their necessary correction and geodetic referencing to national and global geodetic reference system as important reference sources for marine geospatial information and supporting the implementation of United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

Thanks.

I thank the distinguished representative of Iraq. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Chair. On subparagraph A, we propose to replace the word welcomed with took note of in the first, yes, took note of. And in the second line after the word information, instead of the comma, we would propose to add and welcomed. So it would read and welcomed the successful consolidation, et cetera. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey. I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would ask if it's possible for having Iraq and delegates to just review the English version of what we have corrected in 1611B. Thank you.

I thank the Secretariat and I invite the distinguished representative from Iraq to please confirm the text as shown on the screen. And if you would like for the Secretariat to read that aloud, that would be fine. Is it okay on the screen or would you like it read out loud?

Yes, okay.

Thank you. I invite the Secretariat to provide any further comments as necessary.

I thank the Secretariat.

I now invite the distinguished representative from the United States to take the floor.

Thank you, Madam. In paragraph E, we'd like to add two words in the third to last line following the joint working group to engage. We would like to add the word and cooperate. So it would read finally joint working group to engage and cooperate with relevant United Nation entities. Paragraph E as in echo, third line, joint working group to engage.

Please, distinguished representative from the United States, will you speak more closely to the microphone a little bit more loudly and repeat your intervention?

I wanted them to add the two words that I see on the screen is correct.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you. It also regards letter E. After the reference in line three and four to the BBN Jod agreement, we will propose an insertion in that after beyond national jurisdiction, comma, and other relevant legal instruments having geospatial requirements, comma.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Italy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under paragraph e, in the fifth line, I think the reference to Member States not part of the Convention and should be deleted. So the phrase would go as follows, while respecting institutional mandates. The reference should be deleted because parties to the BBNJ agreement are not necessarily parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Article 66 of the BBNJ agreement provides that the agreement is open for ratification, approval, acceptance and accession by states and regional economic integration organisations without making participation conditional upon being a party to the convention. So in this fact, the BBNJ agreement differs from the 1994 agreement related to the implementation of Part XI of the Convention under which consent to be bound by that agreement and by the Convention is linked. So the proposed reference to the need to respect Member States not party to the Convention is not legally warranted in this context. as it could create the misleading impression that non-parties to UNCLOS cannot become parties to or participate in the implementation of the BBNJ agreement. And this deletion of member states not part to the convention is even more true after the comment of Norway, which we support, fully support. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. And I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

I do not have any further comments. I hope that it is captured appropriately on the text. Thank you.

Thank you, Secretariat, and I see nods. Italy will you please confirm verbally that you agree

Madam chair thank you

to the distinguished representative of Italy I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tor.

Um thank you chair uh if you could just go back to sub paragraph P uh unfortunately we are not in a position to accept the the proposal made by Iraq here, at least for the latter part referencing UNCLOS. So a suggestion may be to delete the reference to UNCLOS and end the paragraph appropriately. Thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative from Turkey. I now invite the Secretariat to respond to the comments made.

I would just like to seek clarification from Turkey if it is, if your, the proposal is to remove for supporting the implementation of the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea as such.

That is correct, yes.

Thank you to the Secretariat and to the distinguished representative from Turkey. I would like to invite the delegate, the distinguished representative from Iraq to please confirm that you accept this change as well.

No, it doesn't matter.

Thank you very much. Alright. Now, with that draft decision 16/111 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/112 entitled policy and legal frameworks? including issues related to authoritative data and emerging technologies. Draft decision 16/112 is adopted. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/113? entitled Implementation and Adoption of Standards for the Global Geospatial Information Community. Draft Decision 16/113 is adopted. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/114 entitled Standardization of Geographical Names and Collaboration with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names? I give the floor to the distinguished delegate of the United States.

Yes, thank you. I have a couple comments. First one will be in addition to paragraph B in the second to last sentence, where it says geospatial information framework, comma, as, I would like to add the letter A, as a practical guide for countries to, then I'd like to add two words, develop and enhance their capacities. And then the next changes I have are in paragraph three, in the third to last line, following sustainable development. Following the words sustainable development, I would like to add three words and emergency response. In paragraph C, as in Charlie. So, and emergency response. That's it, thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative of the United States.

Okay.

I now invite the secretariat to respond to comments made as necessary. I thank the secretariat draft decision 16/114 is adopted as orally revised. Are there any comments on draft decision 16/115 entitled? No, we did this one. Okay, just a minute, please. This was the last decision related to this part of our agenda. May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt the draft report as in L.2 with the inclusion of all draft decisions contained in the informal paper as just adopted as orally revised as the final report and to entrust the rapporteur with finalizing the report by reflecting the proceedings of today's meeting meetings. I hear no objection. It is so decided. The commission has thus concluded its consideration of agenda items three to 17 and 20. We have thus concluded our work for the 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. I would like to thank once again all of our introducers and all participants for their valuable contributions to our discussion and exchange of view. I now invite Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Acting Director of UNSD and Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to deliver some closing remarks.

Thank you, Chair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all delegates, participants, collaborators, partners from everybody here in the room and everybody who has contributed throughout the year to helping us deliver this successful session of the committee. I would also like to acknowledge the considerable support we received from all of you and the broader geospatial community in being able to meet up to expectations and aspirations despite considerable constraints and shortfalls. And I appreciate your understanding in helping us work together as an integrated way to deliver geospatial information management for the betterment of humanity in the world. I would like to say a special word of thanks for everybody on my team, everybody who has supported us through the Department of Conference Management, our interpreters, for their considerable efforts and nonstop work in delivering a successful meeting. My thanks also to the Bureau, the co-chairs, and with those remarks, I turn this back to you.

I thank Mr. Mukherjee. And second, on behalf of the Bureau of the Committee of Experts, all of his thanks and appreciation for all of your hard work over the past year and through this very, very successful week together. We, the Bureau, look forward to working with you during the 16th intersessional period on the program of work that we outlined this week. Thank you. I now declare closed. I now declare closed the 16th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management.