an analysis of global environmental assessment landscape ashbindu singh united nations environment...
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An analysis of Global Environmental Assessment Landscape
Ashbindu SinghUnited Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)Washington D.C.
United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP)
UNEP, established in 1972, is the voice for the
environment within the United Nations system
UNEP’s Early Warning & Assessment Mandate
To keep the state of environmental situation under
review
Needs to fulfill this mandate
• Assessment & Monitoring;• Analysis, modeling• Data and information• Access mechanisms• Capacity building
Earlier assessments
• UNEP/FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment, 1980;
• FAO FRA 1990, 2000, 2010;
• GLASOD (1992): Atlas of Desertification;
• Ozone Assessments
Year 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Global Environment Related Assessments
IPCC
GBA
GEO
GEO Yearbook
GBO
MA/IMoSEB
GIWA
WWDR
IAASTD
LADA
GRAME
(Ozone)
(FRA)
……..
Global Environment Assessment Landscape
UNEP Global Assessment reports
Sub global assessments: A family of products
Reports by NGOs
UNEP GEO family of reports
• Integrated environmental assessment (DPSIR framework);
• Participatory process : Collaborating Centers;
• Capacity building
• State of environment, scenarios, policy actions..
Indicators to asses impact
• Difficult to assess; most of users are academics;
• People’s willingness to pay : sales of reports;
• Media coverage and raising public awareness;
• Catalyze SOE reporting in countries;
• Mentioned in international /Ministerial forums;
• Demonstrable impact on policies.
Another family of products• Atlases: One Planet many People: Atlas of our changing environment;(Packaging and communication of scientific information)
• What is happening where? Visual evidence of changes over time using historical and current satellite data;(Story of environmental change, ground photos…)
• A new experiment
“Africa: Atlas of our changing environment”
Scientific information, Earth Observations ; MDG7 indicators, country profiles (all 54 countries)
Title
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Apollo Image of the Planet
This view of the Earth from space drove home
how finite, interconnected and fragile our planet is.
Inspired Earth Day Celebration in the
United States.
Title
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Growth of the Antarctic ozone hole
Darkest blue areas represent regions of maximum ozone depletion.
1979
19821984
1986
1988 1990
19921994
1997
1999
2004
Title
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Raising awareness about Tropical Deforestation
1975 -Healthy natural vegetation
1989 -“Fishbone” pattern on the landscape indicate agriculture fields
2001 -Agriculture continues to replace forest cover
Rondonia, Brazil
Title
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Regular Monitoring of Amazon Rainforest
Almost one fifth of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared. 26,000 sq km August 2003 to August 2004 alone; 6% higher than the previous 12 months.
Source: Steve Kingstone, BBC News, Brazil
Deforestation was worst in the state of Mato Grosso
Title
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Movement of Transboundary Pollutants
A large dust storm developed in East Asia on 6-7 April 2001, moving over Russia, Japan, the Pacific Ocean, Canada, and ultimately over the United States on 17 April 2001.
24 Jan 1973
Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Glacial Retreat
An estimated 82% of Kilimanjaro’s icecap has disappeared since 1912.
21 Feb 2000
Las Vegas – fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States
• 1973 - A small settlement
• 2000-2006 – The landscape is now dramatically modified
Images courtesy USGS
• 1991 – Rapid urbanization
Title
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Drought in the Western United States
20002004
PhotoViewPhotoView18 meters18 meters
Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
Title
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Lake Mead, United States
New Golf Courses since 2001
Impact analysis: Lessons learned• GEO 4 and other integrated assessments done with full stakeholder consultation and participation are excellent in raising awareness, huge media coverage but policy impact is difficult to assess;
• Single issue based assessments are more likely to influence intergovernmental negotiations like Ozone, Mercury Assessments as problems are well defined compared to say biodiversity assessment;
• In terms of demand and people’s willingness to pay “Atlases” are much more popular (One planet many people: UN’s best seller ever on environment)
• Time series data on most critical environmental variables to promote “evidence based policies” are not available;
• Earth Observations technologies, Internet tools like Google Earth, web2.0 etc are crucial in mobilizing public actions.
Information for Decision-Making
Act
Personalize
Information
Analysis
Data
Title
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An advertisement in the Fortune magazine by BP