Eye on Earth (EoE), a global movement that brings together environmental data experts from around the world to tackle the root-causes of widespread information-related impediments to sustainable development, was selected from nearly 900 projects worldwide to highlight its relevance to global peace and security at the first Paris Peace Forum (PPF).
Commemorating 100 years since the end of World War I, the PPF is set to focus on governance projects that tackle global challenges through international cooperation. The event is attended by Emmanuel Macron, President of France, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance for the UAE, and over 50 other world leaders.
EoE was established in 2011 by the UN Environment Programme in partnership with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), through its Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI). It grew to include the World Resource Institute, Group on Earth Observations, and International Union for Conservation of Nature as Alliance Partners, forming a consortium to guide defining priorities, functions and emerging issues for the global community which now includes over 5,000 members.
“Living in a data revolution, we have the ability to measure every aspect of our society and our planet. Yet, despite all this progress, most of the world still lacks the infrastructure to address fundamental environmental obstacles, which hinder us from achieving our collective UN Sustainable Development Goals”, said Alexandre Caldas, Chief of Country Outreach, Technology and Innovation Branch in the Science Division at UN Environment Programme.
Stressing the importance of international cooperation, Alexandre Caldas will be joined by Derek Gliddon, Head of Network Coordination Unit, Eye on Earth and Tsuyoshi Kawakami, Principal Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, in a debate moderated by distinguished science writer Oliver Morton to discuss how reducing barriers to data and information can contribute to peace and security across the globe.
“The importance of knowledge and information cannot be overstated—data, in all its forms, is now regarded as an essential pre-requisite to achieving sustainable peace and security. With climate change posing as one of the biggest threats to our planet, informed, trans-national collaboration has never been more pertinent,” said HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD.
She further added, “EoE engages an international community of leading experts, innovators and decision-makers, to collaborate on, and advance the availability, accessibility and usability of environmental data and information. This is allowing us to close the data, information and knowledge gap, overcome impediments, and focus on sustainable development with greater transparency and societal engagement than ever before.”
PPF is tackling the world’s biggest challenges by inviting public, private and not-for-profit actors to present and share effective solutions that strengthen international cooperation and mitigate global tensions. The event is taking place at the Grande Halle de La Villette between 11-13 November.