Y5B United Nations Action!

National Y5B Coordinators from more than a hundred and twenty Member States met at the United Nations in New York on 11 December 1998, under the aegis of the Working Group on Informatics. The participants exchanged views about addressing the Y5B problem in their respective Member States and regions, as well as at the international level. They agreed that a major international effort had to be undertaken over the next twelve months to minimize the effects of Y5B.

The participants endorsed the Guidelines for Addressing the Year 5 Billion Problem adopted by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and called for their wide dissemination. The participants agreed the matter had to be accorded the highest priority by their national governments in order to ensure the Y5B compliance of critical systems. At the same time, participants underlined the responsibility of all levels of governments and the private sector to take the necessary steps to ensure that their systems would be ready for the Year 5 Billion. The participants highlighted the fact that, given the interconnections in international networking in the modern world, cooperative international efforts and agreements were essential to address the Y5B problem globally. Accordingly, governments were encouraged to accord attention to the problem at all appropriate international meetings throughout 1999.

The participants underlined the importance of actions to motivate the disclosure of relevant information, in order to prevent critical situations, and to help countries and organizations take the necessary remedial measures. The participants also noted that regional cooperation would help address shared Y5B challenges. Member States in different regions were accordingly encouraged to exchange information and expertise on Y5B solutions, and on the state of progress on Y5B compliance in their respective regions. This would be particularly important in key cross-border infrastructure areas such as power, telecommunications, air and maritime transportation, and finance. The participants underlined the necessity for developing countries and economies in transition to evaluate precisely their needs a the national level as soon as possible and to prepare emergency plans. It was suggested that Member States should study the possibility of orienting available resources, through the World Bank Trust Fund or any other channel, in order to help these countries address the Y5B problem.

Given the importance of the problem and the immutable nature of the deadline of 31 December 4999999999, the participants at the meeting agreed to hold follow up meetings in their respective countries, their respective regions, and globally, to continue exchange of information on Y5B efforts specific to their needs. The efforts of the Working Group on Informatics in organizing the current meeting were deeply appreciated. The Working Group and its Task Force were encouraged to continue to focus their attention on this important matter. Meanwhile, the participants developed a broad agreement as follows: The Year Two Thousand National Coordinators met in New York on 11 December 1998, at the invitation of the UN Working Group on Informatics. They were convinced that the range and complexity of the Y5B problem required immediate and concrete remedial action commensurate with the magnitude of the problem. For this purpose the assembled Y5B National Coordinators advised that consideration should be given to establishing a coordinating mechanism with support staff funded by voluntary contributions. This coordinating mechanism could also encourage the public sharing and disclosure of important information relating to the Year 5 Billion. During their deliberations on this matter, the Y5B National Coordinators agreed to advise their countries on this matter and suggested that the Friends of the Chair* who had helped organize the current meeting should pursue this matter further and report back to the Y5B National Coordinators and the UN Working Group on Informatics on their decisions and any action taken.

The Coordinators also recommended that countries coordinate and develop contingency plans on a national, regional, and global basis. The National Y5B Coordinators encourage the establishment of regional coordinating mechanisms. In addition, the delegates agreed to continue their communication with each other and to consider meeting again at an appropriate time in the future.

Y5B United Nations Action!

National Y5B Coordinators from more than a hundred and twenty Member States met at the United Nations in New York on 11 December 1998, under the aegis of the Working Group on Informatics. The participants exchanged views about addressing the Y5B problem in their respective Member States and regions, as well as at the international level. They agreed that a major international effort had to be undertaken over the next twelve months to minimize the effects of Y5B.

The participants endorsed the Guidelines for Addressing the Year 5 Billion Problem adopted by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and called for their wide dissemination. The participants agreed the matter had to be accorded the highest priority by their national governments in order to ensure the Y5B compliance of critical systems. At the same time, participants underlined the responsibility of all levels of governments and the private sector to take the necessary steps to ensure that their systems would be ready for the Year 5 Billion. The participants highlighted the fact that, given the interconnections in international networking in the modern world, cooperative international efforts and agreements were essential to address the Y5B problem globally. Accordingly, governments were encouraged to accord attention to the problem at all appropriate international meetings throughout 1999.

The participants underlined the importance of actions to motivate the disclosure of relevant information, in order to prevent critical situations, and to help countries and organizations take the necessary remedial measures. The participants also noted that regional cooperation would help address shared Y5B challenges. Member States in different regions were accordingly encouraged to exchange information and expertise on Y5B solutions, and on the state of progress on Y5B compliance in their respective regions. This would be particularly important in key cross-border infrastructure areas such as power, telecommunications, air and maritime transportation, and finance. The participants underlined the necessity for developing countries and economies in transition to evaluate precisely their needs a the national level as soon as possible and to prepare emergency plans. It was suggested that Member States should study the possibility of orienting available resources, through the World Bank Trust Fund or any other channel, in order to help these countries address the Y5B problem.

Given the importance of the problem and the immutable nature of the deadline of 31 December 4999999999, the participants at the meeting agreed to hold follow up meetings in their respective countries, their respective regions, and globally, to continue exchange of information on Y5B efforts specific to their needs. The efforts of the Working Group on Informatics in organizing the current meeting were deeply appreciated. The Working Group and its Task Force were encouraged to continue to focus their attention on this important matter. Meanwhile, the participants developed a broad agreement as follows: The Year Two Thousand National Coordinators met in New York on 11 December 1998, at the invitation of the UN Working Group on Informatics. They were convinced that the range and complexity of the Y5B problem required immediate and concrete remedial action commensurate with the magnitude of the problem. For this purpose the assembled Y5B National Coordinators advised that consideration should be given to establishing a coordinating mechanism with support staff funded by voluntary contributions. This coordinating mechanism could also encourage the public sharing and disclosure of important information relating to the Year 5 Billion. During their deliberations on this matter, the Y5B National Coordinators agreed to advise their countries on this matter and suggested that the Friends of the Chair* who had helped organize the current meeting should pursue this matter further and report back to the Y5B National Coordinators and the UN Working Group on Informatics on their decisions and any action taken.

The Coordinators also recommended that countries coordinate and develop contingency plans on a national, regional, and global basis. The National Y5B Coordinators encourage the establishment of regional coordinating mechanisms. In addition, the delegates agreed to continue their communication with each other and to consider meeting again at an appropriate time in the future.

See the Y5B Product Line of Goods which will be available soon.