Global movement provides data, tools and initiatives to support informed decision-making for sustainable development
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, October 6th 2015 [ME NewsWire]
The second Eye on Earth Summit opened in Abu Dhabi today, with leaders of the Eye on Earth partner organisations highlighting the critical role the movement is playing in promoting dialogue and driving international action to develop solutions to overcome the challenges associated with availability of and access to data to inform decision-making for sustainable development.
Representing the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and new partners Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Resources Institute (WRI), these global thought leaders stressed the urgency of the need to foster a culture of collaboration and find global solutions to make environmental, social and economic data more available and accessible to achieve the global sustainable agenda.
“Global agreement this year on major intergovernmental commitments on sustainable development has brought into sharp focus the need for transparent, timely and accurate data and information on the state of the world’s resources. These global agreements are creating a tipping point for the role of data in sustainable development and Eye on Earth will help to accelerate this transition,” stated HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, EAD.
In September, the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals were unanimously adopted by 193 UN Member States. In March, the UN also adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and in December the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “If good data drives better decisions, open data drives better collaboration. We will need both to meet the challenges of a sustainable future for our planet and its peoples. When information and knowledge are made accessible to everyone across the social spectrum, informed choices and decisions can be made at all levels that support the goals of sustainable development.”
The Eye on Earth Alliance expects the 2015 Summit to drive further international action to revolutionise the way we collect, access, share and use data and information for sustainable development. Themed “Informed Decision-Making for Sustainable Development”, delegates will aim to identify how governments, technology, the scientific community and citizen participation can enhance access to quality data and information.
“By harnessing the data revolution for sustainable development, we have an opportunity to create a real turning point in our modern environmental history. This Summit, and the wider efforts of the Eye on Earth Initiative, will help us to pool our collective intelligence and resources to protect the future of the planet and humanity,” said Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN .
“The global reach and prominence of the major organisations that currently represent the Eye on Earth Alliance will bring significant momentum to the Eye on Earth movement as we work together in engaging many more actors in decisions that affect the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants,” said Barbara Ryan, Secretariat Director of GEO.
Since its founding in 2011, Eye on Earth has seen its reach and impact grow. The eight Special Initiatives created to deliver the Eye on Earth mission have brought together more than 650 scientists, government officials, academics, NGOs and ordinary citizens through projects focused on data, data analytics and decision support systems to improve decision-making for sustainable development. Members of the Special Initiatives have identified an additional 120 projects to help close the data gap that currently hampers decision- and policy-making for sustainable development. These project proposals, which require funding, are being presented during Eye on Earth Summit 2015, have also been made available to nations, funding organisations and interested philanthropists.
During the three-day Eye on Earth Summit delegates, will aim to reach consensus on several outcomes, including the formation of new partnerships, the implementation of data governance frameworks and the promotion of new environmental data policies in countries where this is most needed.
“Good decisions start with good data, but decision makers often lack the tools to gather, understand and make use of the growing quantities of information now available to them,” said Janet Ranganathan, vice president for science and research at the World Resources Institute. “The Eye on Earth Summit aims to spark innovations in the way people collect, use, and share data to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. Through Eye on Earth, we can help bridge the gap between governments, businesses, citizens and the data they need to make better decisions.”
More information about the Eye on Earth Summit, speakers and new project proposals can be found at www.eoesummit.org.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Eye on Earth
Eye on Earth is a global movement that aims to improve access to and sharing of environmental, social and economic data, to better inform decision-making for sustainable development. The mission of Eye on Earth is achieved through the work of the five governing Alliance Partners, eight targeted Special Initiatives, and the Eye on Earth Summit.
For more information, please visit www.eoesummit.org.
About the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)
Established in 1996, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is committed to protecting and enhancing air quality, groundwater as well as the biodiversity of our desert and marine ecosystem. For more information, visit www.ead.ae
About the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI)
Under the guidance and patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, AGEDI was formed in 2002 to address responses to the critical need for readily accessible, accurate environmental data and information for all those who need it. For more information, visit www.AGEDI.ae
About the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
Established in 2005, GEO strives to improve the world’s observation systems and provide policy makers and scientists with accurate and useful data that can be used to make informed decisions on issues affecting the planet. For more information, visit www.earthobservations.org
About the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. For more information, please visit www.iucn.org.
About UNEP
UNEP is the voice for the environment in the UN system. Established in 1972, UNEP's mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. For more information, visit www.unep.org
About the World Resources Institute (WRI)
WRI is a global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. Our 450 experts and staff work with partners in more than 50 countries; we have offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia and the United States. For more information, visit http://www.wri.org
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