G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Ecoinformatics and UNEP Ecoinformatics – Role in Global Informatics, Assessments & Regional Networks Sheraton Hotel, Seattle, 25 January 2010 Capacity Development Branch (CDB) Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi, Kenya

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K 1972: Core UNEP mandates UNGA resolution 2997 (XXVII) Keep under review the world environmental situation in order to ensure that emerging environmental problems of wide international significance receive appropriate and adequate consideration by Governments. Promote the contribution of the relevant international scientific and other professional communities to the acquisition, assessment and exchange of environmental knowledge and information. Build capacity and promote technology support for undertaking national and engaging in international processes for monitoring, assessment and early warning.

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Monitoring, assessment & reporting Monitoring, assessment & reporting is a core function of UNEP (dating back to 1972) Most countries have environmental legislation that calls for procedures, systems and regular reporting processes to keep the environmental situation under continuous review Monitoring, assessment & reporting is a pre-requisite for informed decision-making and for policy-setting Science must inform policy => important to engage the scientific community i.e. bridge the science-policy interface

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Ecoinformatics Group and UNEP UNEP has been a member of the Ecoinformatics Group for about 10 years Helped form the Ecoterm group which works in area of environmental terminology Hosted first meeting of Ecoterm Group (Geneva, 2003)

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Driving forces for Ecoinformatics in UNEP 2005 – Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building 2009/2010 – Revitalised International Environmental Governance process 2009/2010 – Knowledge Management strategy (internal & external component)

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K International Environmental Governance (IEG) - Creating a strong Science Base Acquisition, compilation, analysis and interpretation of data and information Information exchange Environmental assessment and early warning Scientific advice Science-policy interface

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K IEG: Functions (science, data, networking) Support national, regional and sub-regional capacities for collecting, analysing and utilizing data and information Develop and maintain a systematic approach to facilitation of information exchange and networking between national and regional scientific capacities including through enhanced interoperability of data, facilitation of aggregation of data and assessment findings Enhance cooperation with other parts of the UN system and with the scientific community, including with national science academies

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Two major gaps No global environmental information system for collecting, analysing, sharing and utilizing data and information No systematic approach towards reporting on the state of the environment No systematic approach for enhancing interoperability of data, facilitation of aggregation of data and assessment findings No systematic approach towards facilitation of information exchange from national to global No multi-disciplinary global environmental information network for building institutional collaboration to keep the environment under review No systematic approach towards networking from national to global No systematic approach to enhancing national and regional scientific capacities

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Role of Ecoinformatics in 2010 and beyond Technology changing very fast (e.g. Moores Law) but ICT needs to be applied more to keep the environmental situation under review. Digital Divide is decreasing but developing countries still not making optimum use of ICT for environment need capacity-building Opportunity for a unified global environmental information system/commons/network Networking and North-South partnerships are part of UNEPs Medium-term Strategy

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K : UNEP reform and new programmatic directions UNEPs Medium-term Strategy sets out the next phase in the evolution of UNEP by providing a clear, results-based focus on a new programme of work that addresses the following six cross-cutting thematic priorities: 1.Climate change; 2.Disasters and conflicts; 3.Ecosystem management; 4.Environmental governance; 5.Harmful substances and hazardous waste; 6.Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Environmental Governance sub-programme ( ) Expected accomplishment (d): national and international stakeholders have access to sound science and policy advice for decision making. Output 1. Assessments Output 2. Networking Output 3. Capacity Development

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Environmental Governance Project preparation (Dec Jan 2010) Expected accomplishment (d): national and international stakeholders have access to sound science and policy advice for decision making. 4 Projects: - Global Environment Outlook (GEO-5) - Integrated and thematic assessments (at least 9) - Multi-disciplinary Networks (at least 6) - Capacity Development

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Relationship to Ecoinformatics work Networking project document One global network (GEIN AGEDI) 5 sub-global networks: Africa, West Asia, EECCA Asia & Pacific, LAC 25 national networks: Africa (4), West Asia (5), EECCA (6) Asia & Pacific (5), LAC (5)

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K Relationship to Ecoinformatics work Capacity Development project document MENTOR platform (tools, training, eLearning) Assessment CD support (IEA training package, thematic assessments training package, etc) Data/information CD support (e.g. GIS tools, array of standards) Networking CD support (guidelines, best practice, etc)

G L O B A L E N V I R O N M E N TAL I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K UNEP ECOinformatics priorities: and beyond Global Environmental Alert Service Environmental Data and Indicators Platform UNEP-Live (Virtual State-of-the-Environment or GEO-6 by 2016) MENTOR capacity development platform Developing and implementing strategic partnerships e.g. Microsoft agreement

Thank you