The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET) have just published their strategy for 2021-2030. We analyze its most relevant points, in which data, including geographical ones, are protagonists.
The European Union’s concern for the environment is far from new. In fact, initiatives such as the INSPIRE Directive are proof of this. In the next decade, Europe will have to face unprecedented environmental and climate challenges, while at the same time stimulating recovery from the economic and social impacts of the health crisis.
The European “Green Deal” and the associated ecological recovery stimulus measures show the ambitions of the European Union and European countries to face these challenges by setting long-term objectives, with concrete targets, and by establishing new financial instruments.
All this has crystallized in the development of a strategy that must be completed over the next decade and that we comment below, highlighting the fundamental role that data have in it, being the geographical nature ones essential for this.
The importance of digitizing data
AEMA-EIONET 2021-2030 provides practical knowledge on trends, prospects and solutions for a sustainable Europe. It emphasizes the value of data (reliable knowledge) when making decisions, since its use and communications will get even greater relevance.
Taking 2002 as a starting point, nowadays it’s about 250 times more information handled on environmental issues than before, such as the related to air and climate, nature or sustainability and well-being.
In order to manage this amount of data, it is necessary to adopt digitization, which involves new technologies such as Big Data, artificial intelligence and Earth observation. All of these will complement and potentially replace the pre-established sources of information to better support decision-making.
Key Strategy for AEMA-EIONET 2021-2030
What goals are proposed?
The plan is based on 5 strategic objectives:
- Produce evidence-based knowledge to support policy implementation and the development of new policies to accelerate and scale-up accelerate and expand the transition to sustainability.
- Make specific contributions to inform policy and public debates by organizing and communicating knowledge about responses, including innovative solutions to the challenges of society.
- Strengthen your network through more active engagement at the national level and work with other leading organizations to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing.
- Support the implementation and development of the European political agenda, involving the European data strategy and digital agenda, the potential of Big Data, artificial intelligence and earth observation to improve the provision of information.
- Develop the structures, experience and capacity throughout your network to satisfy diverse knowledge needs that are constantly evolving, ensuring and diversifying the necessary resources to achieve your joint vision.
What aspects does it focus on?
This plan marks 5 fundamental areas of action, which are:
- Biodiversity and ecosystems: inform and evaluate actions aimed at protecting biodiversity and restoring ecosystems for their sustainable use. This includes data-driven assessment, reporting and monitoring activities.
- Mitigation of the effects of climate change and adaptation to it: monitor actions aimed at climate neutrality and resilience.
- Human health and the environment: evaluate the health impact of air, soil, water, noise, chemical, etc. pollution.
- Circular economy and use of resources: measure the transition towards a circular economy and the consequences for the environment of the consumption of raw materials, products, services and waste management.
- Sustainability trends: report all of them and assess potential related synergies.
In addition, to achieve a greater impact of this plan, EEA-EIONET will focus its efforts on specific and timely communication. They are thus intended to ensure wide acceptance by decision-makers and the general public.
For our part, from Geograma we continue to do our best so that all the agents involved have really valid tools with which to work with digitized geographic information suitable for use and interpretation. To discover their full potential and how they can serve you, you just have to talk to us. Shall we start?
