ID :
380736
Thu, 09/17/2015 - 09:46
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Eye on Earth movement gains global momentum

ABU DHABI, 17th September, 2015 (WAM) -- Eye on Earth, the global movement aiming to improve access to and the availability of environmental, social and economic data to support informed decision-making for sustainable development, has received an outstanding response to its request for new project proposals. These projects which relate to the collection, provision and usage of environmental-related data could radically change the way the world approaches sustainable development. The Eye on Earth community, comprising members from government agencies, UN organisations, NGOs, the private sector, academia and civil society from across the globe, has prepared more than 120 project proposals. The new proposals outline transformational concepts to advance the eight Eye on Earth Special Initiatives, SIs. For the past four years, these SIs have been delivering breakthroughs in the areas of equal access, environmental education, linking knowledge networks, biodiversity, community sustainability and resiliency, disaster management, oceans and blue carbon and water security. "We have been overwhelmed by the number and quality of project submissions received. This sends a strong message of conviction in the Eye on Earth process and the important role it plays in connecting networks and building capacity across diverse knowledge communities to improve decision-making for sustainable development," said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary-General Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, and founding Eye on Earth Alliance Partner. Many of the projects also focus on improving the environmental data landscape in developing regions where governments and organisations are at a severe disadvantage when attempting to integrate this information into their climate mitigation and conservation strategies. Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab region, Africa and the Small Island Developing States, SIDS, are some of the regions identified as needing urgent attention and support. Several of the new project concepts, which are now seeking funding, will be presented during the Eye on Earth Summit from 6th - 8th October in Abu Dhabi. Project authors will be present to meet with potential donors, development agencies and investors. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, said, "To ensure a future of sustainability and equity for our planet, we must be able to make informed choices and decisions, be they in business, government or as individual citizens. But informed choices cannot be made without the support of robust, accurate and comprehensive data. These Eye on Earth project concepts, once funded and implemented, can provide much-needed capacity and infrastructure for data collection, storage, analysis and dissemination." – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395285617928.html

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