Published: 14 May 2008
- Millions of people across Europe will
have easy access to environmental information
through mobile and online technology as
a result of the partnership between the
European Environment Agency and Microsoft.
Professor Jacqueline
McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA,
and Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman Europe, Microsoft
Corporation, signed a partnership agreement,
aimed at creating an environmental information
platform. This platform will be based on
Microsoft's 'Virtual Earth' and will not
only host scientific data but also observations
provided by local users. The technology
developed by Microsoft will enable users
to upload and share their information with
others. Where possible, the information
on the platform will be accessible through
mobile devices.
'This collaboration
is a first of its kind to establish a two-way
communication on the environment. Until
now, authorities, including the EEA, have
communicated their data to the public. But
local observers, who are often the first
to notice real change in their environment,
had difficulties sharing their observations
with others. This partnership will provide
them a platform to do exactly that', said
Professor McGlade.
The platform will be open to contributions
by other information providers and will
be functional in the weeks to come.
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Bridging the Gap between
scientists and policy-makers
Published: 15 May 2008
- Improving environmental policies requires
reliable and timely information on the environment.
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive
Director of the European Environment Agency,
explained at the Bridging the Gap Conference
in Slovenia, how the Shared Environmental
Information System (SEIS) will help turn
scientific data into policy-relevant information.
'Environmental information
is currently collected by a multitude of
organisations using techniques ranging from
satellite observation from space to volunteers
knee-deep in mud collecting water samples
for laboratory analysis', said Professor
McGlade. 'At the moment, we are not reaping
the full benefits of all these data already
available, because we cannot access them
all.'
SEIS will connect the
existing environmental information systems
in Europe. With SEIS, users will at all
times be able to access the best and the
most recent information available on the
environment and carry out geographical comparisons.
Greater accessibility will enable policy-makers
to formulate better policies and even design
policies addressing regional particularities.
SEIS will also ensure
that the data will only be collected once,
preventing double work. Moreover, having
all the data and information readily available
will make it easier for authorities to fulfil
their reporting obligations. Electronic
reporting through SEIS will reduce the administrative
burden, both on EU Member States and EU
institutions.
Bridging the Gap: Responding
to Environmental Change from Words to
Deeds
The Bridging the Gap conferences aim to
provide insights for closing the gaps in
the chain from science to policy, or more
broadly, from knowledge to action. The Bridging
the Gap 2008 Conference, being held on 1416
May 2008 in Portoro, Slovenia, focuses
on the need for urgent action, the environment
at the heart of economic decision-making;
and communication between scientists, policy-makers,
politicians, business and civil society.
These issues will be discussed through the
following themes:
Information-gathering and -sharing
Energy and the environment
Sustainable consumption and production
Adaptation to climate change
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
While the conferences
are strongly led by host countries, the
EEA has acted as an initiator and main player
in all four Bridging the Gap conferences
so far.
