Reportnet, SEEIS (Shared European Environmental Information System) & UN Environment Watch

1. Twinning SK03/IB/EN/01Final Conference 13 June 2006 Reportnet, SEEIS(Shared European Environmental Information System) & UN Environment Watch johannes.mayer@umweltbundesamt.at

2. Shared Information System • DG Environment “Vision Paper” presented to EPRG and Council Working Goup • First stage: moving to electronic reporting and use existing tools like Reportnet • Later comprehensive integration of systems including “Inspire” Directive for Spatial Data, GMES initiative etc. DG Environment contact: Peter.Wicks@cec.eu.int

3. Using Reportnet tools • Reporting Obligations Database – rod.eionet.eu.int • Central Data Repository – cdr.eionet.eu.int • Reporting contacts – directory.eionet.eu.int

4. Report to EEA, EC, Conventions • Reporting Obligations Database covering reporting to EEA, EC, International Conventions • Reporting Contacts Directory all to EEA, few to EC, not yet for reporting to Conventions ( SK: complete for EC) • National Repository all reporting to EEA, increasing to EC, some countries (NO, SE …) also to Conventions ( SK: complete for EC ?)

5. Transparency and Public Access • Reporting Obligations, Guidelines etc  full public access (as for legislation) • Data Repository  public access to finalised deliveries, option to limit access to files ( AT/SK: option used ?) • Directory  Option to limit access to full contact details (tel, fax, address) to nominated network members with login minimum public access to reporting network members: name/institution

6. Co-ordination requirements • Increased use of Directory and National Repository, esp. for reporting to DG Environment  National Decisions required on technical co-ordination and organisation • EEA NFPs (presently managing Reportnet Directory and National Repository) to take increased responsibilities ?  SK: Comprehensive Mandate to SEA for environmental data reporting (formalise ?)

7. Input & output sides of SEEIS Reporting & Information/Communication • Reporting side of the system: Extended use of Reporting tools – Best possible integration of reporting to Commission and International Conventions  Transparent integrated documentation on who – why – what – when – how of Reporting • Information/Communication side of the system: Integrated access to relevant usable data and information via the data services of EEA & other Data Centers/system nodes (at European, national(?), (later also ?) regional & local(?) levels)

8. UN Environment Watch proposal • Will replace UNEP/Infoterra network in 2007 • NFPs and Thematic Centers as in Eionet • Within Europe through EEA/Eionet (to avoid duplication)  thematic discussion EEA/UNEP, Europe/other Continents • More systematic monitoring and reporting by all countries world-wide  North-South partnerships (twinning) for national institution building (UNEP mandate)

9. Global Regional Assessment Compact National Local The Architecture of the Environment Watch System Environment Watch Conceptual Framework Developed incrementally over time through partnership Science and Observing Information Network (national and regional capacities) Decision-making Capacity Building Programme & Toolbox

10. Global Regional HUMAN SOCIETY Local • I – IMPACTS • Change in human wellbeing broadly defined as human freedoms of choice and actions, i.a. to achieve: • - security • - basic material needs • - good health • good social relations • which may result in human development or poverty, inequity and human vulnerability. • Demographic, social • (institutional) and material • factors determining human • wellbeing • D – DRIVERS: • Material, Human and Social Capitals • Human development: • - Population demographics • - Economic processes (consumption, production, markets and trade) • - Scientific and technological innovation • Distribution pattern processes (inter- and intra- generational) • Cultural, social, political and institutional (including production and service sectors) processes R – RESPONSES to environmental challenges: formal and informal adaptation to, and mitigation of, environmental change (including restoration) by altering human activity and development patterns within and between the D, P and I boxes i.a. through:science and technology, policy, law and institutions. • P – PRESSURES: • Human interventions in the environment: • Land-use • Resource extraction • External inputs (fertilisers, chemicals, irrigation) • Emissions (pollutants and waste) • - Modification and movement of organisms • Natural processes: • Solar radiation • Volcanoes • Earthquakes Environmental factors determining human wellbeing - Ecological services such as Provisioning services (consumptive use), Cultural services (non-consumptive use), Regulating services and Supporting services (indirect use) - Non-ecosystem natural resources i.e. hydrocarbons, minerals and renewable energy - Stress i.a. diseases, pests, radiation and hazards • S – STATE and trends: • Natural capital: atmosphere, land, water and biosphere • Environmental impacts and change: • - Climate Change and Depletion of the Stratospheric Ozone Layer • Biodiversity change • Pollution, degradation and / or depletion of air, water, minerals and land (including desertification) ENVIRONMENT TIME: 1987 2007 - 2015(short term) 2050 (medium term) (long term)

11. Aral Sea - Death of a Sea The world’s fourth largest lake before 1960. 1973 1986 1999 2004: More than 60 per cent of the lake has disappeared

12. The Information Network • Current activities: • EEA/EIONET • AEIN • Ecomundus • Pilot activities • Alert system • Requires: • defined partners • guidelines • web based tools National environmental information networks NFP RFP NFP NFP NFP NFP NFP UN NFP RFP NFP NFP NFP

13. UN Environment Watch & SEEIS • UN Environment Watch might adopt some Reportnet tools (open source software) and concepts • Reporting to global Conventions as potential Priority Data Flows (pilot Reportnet/SEEIS demonstration to UNEP Governing Council February 2007 ?) • Concertation Eionet/UN on other reporting themes ? • African Environmental Information Network surprisingly comparable to EEA/Eionet (but Internet access much less generalised) • UNEP/Infoterra network definitively “out of use” (if Environment Watch works through EEA/Eionet)

14. SEEIS 2006-2008 actions • Reporting side of the system: Extend use of Reportnet tools (e.g. Directory solutions: integrate Eurostat/Waste Statistics 2006, DG Environment 2007, International Conventions 2008; complete ROD system, assuring full linkage to Guidelines etc) • Thematic dialogue with UN on Priority Dataflows to global Conventions (2006/2007) & harmonising reporting content (2007/2008)

15. SEEIS 2006-2008 actions • Information/communication parts of the system: Support integration efforts of EEA for the Spatial Data Infrastructure • Contribute to interoperability of databases & web-services, explore new formats (xml) • Explore integrating national/regional/local nodes/services, to provide useful information • Thematic dialogue with UNEP on harmonising information content