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UNEP’s Early Warning Approach and Strategy explained/“de-mystified”. Regional Environmental Information Networking Meeting for the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, Hotel Khreschatyk, Kyiv, Ukraine, 3-5 November 2009. UNEP’s Early Warning Mandate.
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UNEP’s Early Warning Approach and Strategy explained/“de-mystified” Regional Environmental Information Networking Meeting for the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, Hotel Khreschatyk, Kyiv, Ukraine, 3-5 November 2009
UNEP’s Early Warning Mandate Keep under review the world environmental situation, to assure thatemerging environmental problems of wide international significance are given appropriate consideration by governments(UN General Assessment, 1972) is to provide leader ship and encourage
Other UNEP Early Warning Mandates • “Monitor and assess existing and emerging environmental problems and alert policy-makers and the world public…” (UN Task Force on Environment and Human Settlements, 1998) • The Nairobi Declaration (Feb. 1997) underlined the need to catalyse cooperation and action, and provide a scientific/technical base for UNEP’s early warning activities. • The Malmo Ministerial Declaration (May 2000) reiterated the above statements, and emphasized the “need to raise awareness of emerging issues from scientific research and other sources”.
UNEP Early Warning ~ Strategic Goals Provide early warning on emerging environmental issues and threats. • Contribute to scientific understanding for a wide range of issues related to early warnings. • Communicate, raise awareness and advise policy- makers on the likely consequences of environ- mental change. • The E.W. Strategy is based on four principles: scientific credibility; policy relevance; internat’l cooperation; and related capacity building.
Types of Early Warning Issues • Slow-onset or “creeping” environmental issues (i.e. incremental but long-term and cumulative changes that typically receive little attention: acid rain/air pollution, land degradation/soil erosion, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, pressure on marine resources, urban growth). • Rapid/sudden-onset natural & technological hazards. • Unique but foreseeable emerging issues (global warming in the 1950s, tropical deforestation in the 1960s, ozone depletion in the 1970s, ocean acidification today) “not yet threatening, but could become so in future…
Stages of the Early Warning Process • Observing, Monitoring and Research. • Detection and Screening. • Analysis / Assessments. • The Early Warning “story”. • Awareness/Responses • and Actions.
Partners for the Early Warning process • Global Observing Systems (GCOS, GOOS, GTOS). • Group on Earth Observation and the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS). • National Space Agencies world-wide. • UNEP Collaborating Centres network and others. • Academic/university community and individual researchers from around the world. • Other groups still to be identified…
Another vision of UNEP-Live GEOLive Website -------------------------- View on Maps Search By Region Search by Theme Geo Thematic Content Periodically updated Data portal Search Search GEOLive System Search GEAS - Real Time Alerts - Hot Spots - Science Briefs GEOLive Database Citizen science: My Environment upload Videos Pictures Blogs GEOLive content pages
Overview of UNEP’s Disasters and Conflicts sub-programme for 2010-11 (three E.A.s and 24 projects total) Regional Environmental Information Networking Meeting for the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, Hotel Khreschatyk, Kyiv, Ukraine, 3-5 November 2009
Three “Expected Accomplishments” • EA (a). Enhanced capacity of member states in environmental management in order to contribute to natural and man-made disaster reduction. • EA (b). Rapid and reliable env’l assessments following conflicts and disasters as requested. • EA (c). The post-crisis assessment and recovery process contributes to improved env’l manage- ment and sustainable use of natural resources.
Total of 6 proposed Projects for 2010-11 • Under E.A. (a): • Environmental Cooperation for Peace-building. • Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative. • Environmental Management for DRR. • National capacity development for improved environmental emergency response. • Building capacity for industrial risk reduction and emergency preparedness in developing countries. • (Programme Framework Support Project).
Total of 11 proposed Projects for 2010-11 • Under E.A. (b) and (c ): • Coordination and mobilisation of international assistance to environmental emergencies. • Post-crisis environmental assessment. • Post-crisis environmental recovery. • Environment, humanitarian action & early recovery. • (Country-specific projects in Afghanistan, China, DRC, Iraq, Palestinian territories and Rwanda). • (Programme Framework Support Project).
Total of 7 proposed Projects for 2010-11 • Projects continued from 2008-09: • Capacity building and institutional development programme for env’l management in Afghanistan. • Sudan Integrated Recovery Programme. • DRC Post-conflict Environment Assessment. • Environmental Survey of Ogoniland, Nigeria. • Nepal Env’l. Early Recovery Programme. • Development of an environmental quality monitoring system for Lebanon. • Capacity building in cooperation with SBC for hazardous waste management in Cote d’Ivoire.