Chapter 3 – NOAA Operations – International Affairs
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Oceans and atmosphere are inherently global and do not respect national boundaries. Therefore, the nature of NOAA’s mission requires that NOAA engage across boundaries to advance U.S. and NOAA’s interests, achieve NOAA’s goals and maximize the mutual benefits of international exchange with its international partners. NOAA has identified international leadership as a priority.
NOAA’s international work and partnerships is a key resource and integral part of achieving NOAA’s Mission, through advancing NOAA’s Strategic Goals, strengthening NOAA science, and leveraging foreign resources and capabilities through international collaborations in research, observations, management and capacity building. International cooperation are promoted in support of NOAA’s mission and U.S. foreign policy through multilateral and bilateral engagement and relationships.
The Director for International Affairs is the senior advisor to the NOAA Administrator on international matters. NOAA’s international work is accomplished by NOAA’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), LO international offices through matrixed management authority, and the NOAA International Affairs Council, for which the Director serves as the chair. International engagement is supported as an integral part of NOAA’s work throughout the agency.
NOAA’s International Engagement
NOAA officials serve as U.S. representatives to the World Meteorology Organization, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Group on Earth Observations, International Whaling Commission, International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, and many other prominent international organizations. NOAA also occupies leadership positions in many multilateral forums, including the Arctic Council, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, United Nations Environment Programme, and the International Maritime Organization.
NOAA serves as a lead agency and provides support for several priority bilateral relationships (including fisheries, oceans, meteorology, Earth systems, remote sensing, data, climate science, and science and technology) between the U.S. and other governments, including, but not limited to, China, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, India, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean and Pacific regions. NOAA staff serve as international experts, engaging in numerous treaties and projects, and bring international resources and state-of-the-art expertise to benefit NOAA’s programs.
NOAA International Affairs Council
To ensure that NOAA is able to respond effectively to its global challenge, the international affairs of the agency are coordinated through the NOAA International Affairs Council (IAC). The IAC serves as NOAA’s focal point for international policy, activities, and important cross-cutting topical areas. The IAC is the advisory, information-sharing, and coordinating group for NOAA’s international matters. The IAC serves as a focal point for coordinating international policy and activities, including important crosscutting topical areas and Administration priorities, to attain the objective of scientific leadership and sustainable management in international environmental policy. The Council is also responsible for making recommendations, through the Deputy Director, NOAA Office of International Affairs, to the NOAA Executive Panel (NEP), and through the Director, NOAA Office of International Affairs, to the NOAA Executive Council (NEC) concerning international policy, objectives, and priorities. Through the IAC, NOAA’s international affairs are managed to ensure coordination, cooperation, and communication and to enhance the visibility of NOAA’s international activities and accomplishments.
The Council establishes committees, working groups and / or teams to address specific tasks as required. Current committees, working groups and teams include:
- »Polar Committee
- »International Disasters Committee
- »Law of the Sea Convention Working Group
- »Indonesia Team
- »China Team
Through the IAC, NOAA has established procedures for communication, collaboration, and cooperation across the LOs/SOs with respect to international activities, including, but not limited to, the review and finalization of international agreements, nominations of embassy science fellows, responses to annual information requests regarding NOAA’s international engagements, and support for foreign travel requirements.
NOAA’s international engagement is supported by an international affairs offices at NOAA headquarters and in each of the LOs,. These offices provide policy leadership, expertise, and advice; represent NOAA and the U.S. in international relationships; conduct projects and provide technical assistance; and provide staff support to NOAA Leadership. www.international.noaa.gov (which links to other LO International websites)
The Office of International Affairs, led by a Director and Deputy Director, serve as senior policy advisors to the NOAA Administrator and other NOAA Leadership on international policy issues, plan and coordinate NOAA’s international programs and carry out tasks of special interest related to international activities. The Office of International Affairs exercises a leadership role in establishing policies, guidelines, and procedures for NOAA’s international programs, including:
- »Coordinating NOAA’s international activities, particularly those which cut across multiple LOs.;
- »Coordinating and often leading NOAA’s interactions on international issues with other Federal departments and agencies, including other bureaus within DOC, the Department of State, and on numerous inter-agency teams;
- »Developing and/or implementing Administration policy on international issues affecting NOAA; and
- »Negotiating international agreements and providing appropriate representation of NOAA and DOC at international fora.
