ABU DHABI -- 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." -end-
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