THE FUTURE ESA EARTH-OBSERVATION STRATEGY AND LIVING PLANET PROGRAM

Our space capabilities are continually evolving and must be at the ser vice of mankind both for research and for new applications. As an inte gral element of the Director General's proposal for a European Space S trategy, the ESA Earth Observation Strategy is an essential contributi on to allow Europe to face up to the environmental, economic and polit ical challenges of the next century, For a budget 25% less than the cu rrent annual expenditure, the 'Living Planet' programme provides the s cale and the continuity for Europe to mount a broad and effective prog ramme. It will enable Europe, its researchers and its industry to adva nce the use of space for obtaining critical information in many fields , such as environmental and climate change, resource and disaster mana gement, sea, air and land transport, regional and development policies , and support to Developing Countries.