EC Proposes Shared Environment Information System
February 5, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
The objective of this new system is to tie together existing data gathering and information flows using modern tools, such as the Internet and satellite technology, moving away from paper-based reporting and reports.
Such a system would allow data to be easily understood and available to all interested parties.
In proposing this new system, the EC contends that pertinent and up-to-date information on the state of environment is essential for sound policies. This includes information on how the climate is changing, whether European waters are improving and how nature is reacting to pollution and changing land use.
Stavros Dimas, EC environment commissioner, said, "Timely, relevant and reliable information on the environment is absolutely necessary for decision makers to respond to the environmental problems of our time. But this is not enough. Our citizens are also entitled to know of the quality of the air and water where they live or if floods, droughts or pollution is risking their property and livelihood. We must thus improve the way we collect, analyse and communicate information on our environment."
The need for sharing environmental information
More than 70 of the several hundred pieces of environmental legislation in force in the European Union (EU) require member states to report on specific aspects of the environment within their territory. A large amount of environmental data is thus collected by various levels of public authorities throughout the EU.
This information is used to analyse trends and pressures on the environment; it is vital when drawing up policies and assessing whether those policies are effective or being properly implemented. At present, this wealth of information is neither made available in a timely manner nor in a format that policy makers and the public can readily understand and use. This is due to a range of obstacles of a legal, financial, technical or procedural nature.
With the Shared Environmental Information System, environmentally relevant data and information would be stored in compatible and virtually interconnected databases throughout the EU. The proposed SEIS would be a decentralised but integrated web-enabled information system based on a network of public information providers sharing environmental data and information.
Reaping the benefits of technology
Information and communication technology will enable real-time data to be made available to decision makers and allow them to make immediate and life-saving decisions. Recent experiences of forest fires, floods and droughts show how much timely environmental information can make a difference during an emergency.
Today's environmental challenges - such as dealing with water scarcity, preserving ecosystems and biodiversity, and adapting to climate change - depend on the assessment of data from a variety of sectors and sources. For example, the health effects of air pollution can be evaluated if statistics on air quality, population concentrations and health statistics are overlapped for a specific region or geographical area and analysed collectively. Action can follow based on the results.
Better environmental information for better policies
SEIS will offer EU member states an efficient electronic system to fulfil their reporting obligations on EU environmental policies and legislation. The new system will be especially helpful in avoiding the duplication of reporting efforts, the streamlining of data flows, and reducing monitoring and reporting costs.
In return, SEIS will provide member states and EU institutions with more coherent environmental information to facilitate the drafting, implementation and effectiveness of environmental protection policies.
European citizens will also be empowered by SEIS. It will provide them with useful environmental information in their language and thus enable them to make informed decisions on their environment and influence public policy.
From vision to reality
A detailed implementation plan for SEIS will be presented some time in 2008. It will be built on efforts already being undertaken in Europe to create integrated information systems.
These include the Water Information System for Europe (WISE), the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET), the 2007 INSPIRE directive on access and interoperability of spatial data, and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative on Earth-monitoring data from satellites.
However, there is no integrated platform to connect all these initiatives into a shared and common system. SEIS aims to fill in this gap.
EU financial support to complement the national and regional budgets to implement SEIS will come from the Research Framework Programmes, LIFE, the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) and the Structural Funds.
Source: European Commission.