1. “Information Society Technologies and the Environment” H
“Information Society Technologies and the Environment” H.SAARENMAA, European Environment Agency W. BOCH, European Commission, DG XIII

2. What is Information Society
A society where a majority of production comes through processing of information and services based on that
An electronic democracy where citizens are informed at proper stages of planning and can participate in decision-making
A networked society of participation and co-operation where some new rules apply

3. Networking means co-operation
Stages of empowering stakeholders
Information
Enabling: network build-up
Participation, linking to
Co-operation
True progress is possible only when you can build on work made by others, maximizing work-share benefits
Co-operation is surprisingly difficult, because it means giving up something

4. Caveats in Information Society
Information overload
Flat organisations, speed, imbalanced expectations of efficiency, escalation of meetings
Outdated forms of information
Can you compete on and with AltaVista Search?
Being technology-driven
but allow some…
Duplicated efforts and networks
Learn to add value, integrate networks with others

5. Information Society and the Environment
Environmental issues -- info needs cross-cutting
Sustainability as guiding principle on all sectors
Citizens are stakeholders in environmental decision making
Current ways of co-operating are not sufficient
Huge market for simple environmental information
Improve by exposing: data and environment
EU Directive on access to environmental information
US EPA experience

6. Opportunities ESPRIT (DGIII)
Environment and Climate Programme (DG XII)
Telematics Applications Programme (DGXIII) for Environment
4th Framework Programme
Exploratory action, 26 projects, 23 MECU
5th Framework Programme
Full implementation, about 100 MECU

7. Present and future EU R&D activities
Future research activities in the 5th FP
Four thematic programmes and budget
Improving the quality of life and management of living resources (2650 MECU)
Creating a user friendly information society (3925 MECU)
Promoting competitive and sustainable growth (3100 MECU)
Preserving the ecosystem, which will address energy and the environment in an integrated manner (2100 MECU)

8. Present and future EU R&D activities
“Creating a User Friendly I Society”
Key action 1: Systems and services for the citizen
Intelligent environmental monitoring, analysis, forecasting and decision support
Information and management support tools and systems for sustainable development
Real time high performance risk and emergency management systems and services
Support action for technological development

9. Expected benefits from R&D Examples of critical issues
a) Water Resources (quality and quantity)
b) Air Pollution
c) Earthquakes
d) Global Warming
e) Black Sea disaster
f) Energy Management

10. Expected benefits from R&D
Market
Employment
Sustainability
Transport Telematics Solutions

11. Conclusion The new economies and rules of Information Society
Global nature of Information Society
Services as catalyst and enablers to put the principle of sustainable development into action
A huge opportunity in EU and CEEC
The moment to build partnerships is now