International Years in 2008; General Assembly declarations for 2008 

1.  International Year of Languages  (GA Resolution A/61/L.56)http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/ga10592.doc.htm
2.  International Year of Sanitation 2008 (GA Resolution A/C.2/61/Rev.1)
http://www.unicmanila.org/main/index.php?pg=whatsnew&id=9
3.  International Year of the Potato (GA Resolution A/C.2/60/L/57)
 http://www.potato2008.org/
4.  International Year of Planet Earth (GA Resolution A/RES/60/192)

The International Year of Planet Earth is a 2008 international observance, declared by the 60th United Nations General Assembly. The Year's activities will span the three years 2007-2009.

The Year aims to raise $20 million from industry and governments and will spend half on co-funding research, and half on "outreach" activities. It will be the biggest ever international effort to promote the Earth sciences.

Apart from researchers, who are expected to benefit under the Year's Science Programme, the principal target groups for the Year's broader messages are:

- Decision makers and politicians who need to be better informed about the how Earth scientific knowledge can be used for sustainable development

- The voting public, which needs to know how Earth scientific knowledge can contribute to a better society

- Geoscientists, who are very knowledgeable about various aspects of the Earth but who need help in using their knowledge for the benefit of the world’s population.

The research themes of the year, set out in 10 science prospectuses were chosen for their societal relevance, multidisciplinarity and outreach potential. The Year has 12 Founding Partners 23 Associate Partners and is backed politically by 97 countries representing 87% of the world’s population. The Year was promoted politically at UNESCO and at the United Nations in New York by the People’s Republic of Tanzania. The Year is open to Expressions of Interest from researchers within each of its 10 themes. The Outreach programme of the year is also now open to expressions of interest, and will work in a similar way by receiving and responding to bids for support from individuals and organisations worldwide. The Year's Project Leader is former IUGS President Professor Eduardo F J de Mulder. The Year's Science Committeee is chaired by Prof. Edward Derbyshire (Royal Holloway) and its Outreach Committee by Dr Ted Nield (Geological Society of London).

 The International Year of Planet Earth project was initiated jointly by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)[1] and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)[2]. The UN press release reads: "By a draft on the International Year of Planet Earth, 2008, which the Committee approved without a vote on 11 November, the Assembly would declare 2008 the International Year of Planet Earth. It would also designate the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to organize activities to be undertaken during the Year, in collaboration with UNEP[3] and other relevant United Nations bodies, the International Union of Geological Sciences and other Earth sciences societies and groups throughout the world. Also by that draft, the Assembly would encourage Member States, the United Nations system and other actors to use the Year to increase awareness of the importance of Earth sciences in achieving sustainable development and promoting local, national, regional and international action"