On Monday 9 February 2009, as part of the 46th session of the United Nationals Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in Vienna, the International Astronautical Federation organised a Symposium on "The role of Earth Observation satellites in promoting understanding of and addressing climate change concerns."

UN-COPUOS granted the Federation observer status in 1976. The IAF participates in meeting of the Committee and its Sub-Committees reporting on current issues and trends and the activities that the Federation has been involved with.

The IAF Symposium in Vienna consisted of two round tables: Space systems observation/monitoring of climate change and Space systems contribution to understanding and forecasting climate behaviour.

The welcome speech from IAF President Berndt Feuerbacher is available here.

The full agenda for the Subcommittee meeting is available here.