Follow On

A three-tiered follow-up process is envisaged, carried out by The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and The
Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) teams, in collaboration with representatives from the Eye On Earth
partnership network.

Eye on Earth Summit

Policy-level Process
The global initiative must be brought to the attention of various policy-making and decision-making fora to ensure the

Abu Dhabi
buy-in and to increase synergies with existing initiatives. Information papers will be presented to the UNEP GC/GMEF, The
Group on Earth Observation, The COP meetings of the main MEAs, The Regional Ministerial Fora, and The new high-level
initiatives such as IPBES, etc. A small inter-agency/inter-governmental steering committee may be needed to drive the
policy-level process.

Programmatic / Technical Process

12-15 December 2011
A small number of expert/technical working groups (assessment, networking, capacity development, technology, data and
information) will be responsible for the development of the global reporting system:

Policy, Governance and Networking Working Group

Content, Products and Services Working Group
Technical Infrastructure Working Group
Awareness, Education and Capacity Building Working Group
Technology Showcase Working Group

Marketing and Promotional Process

The global initiative needs to be promoted among audiences consisting of key stakeholder groups including
governments, donors, UN bodies, international organizations, scienti c institutions and the private sector.

Transformative Outcomes
Strengthen synergies, and extend a global process to bridge the
environmental knowledge gap and provide information for
decision-making
Reinforce multilateral policies and institutional arrangements to
interlink environmental information systems and networks
Support technical cooperation to accelerate the building of an
integrated global environmental information infrastructure
Accelerate capacity building and technology support programmes
around the world further to close the gap between developed
and developing nations
Strengthen access to resources to support developing countries

For more information please contact eoe@ead.ae

 The di erent tracks proposed for the Eye on
Earth Summit will thread through both the
Many Initiatives re ecting a diversity of objectives and
Summit and Exhibition, providing participants
approaches are already under way, aiming to provide
policy-makers with the best available multi-disciplinary data and with a richer Summit experience.
information on the state of the environment for decision-making Summit
at all levels from the global down to the local. Opening Plenary - A high-level opening ceremony
Welcoming remarks by Abu Dhabi leadership
The UAE Government, United Nations Environment Programme Keynote address by UN Secretary-General (invited)
(UNEP), European Environment Agency (EEA), and a growing Statement by UNEP Executive Director (invited)
community of regional and international entities are organizing an
Summit Sessions - A number of theme tracks
international summit to address this and other similar challenges.
Network governance and Reporting Structures
This requires a global perspective, coordinated intervention and a Assessment, Reporting and Indicators Landscape
common basis for sharing knowledge and information, upon Governance, Policy, Legal and Regulatory
which well-informed decisions and policies can be built. Planning and Performance Management
Content
The Eye on Earth Summit-Abu Dhabi, which will consist of a Technical Infrastructure
multi-track conference and exhibition, will involve the Technology Support and Capacity Building
participation of high-level policy-makers, decision-makers and Financing Arrangements
technical specialists from the international community, as well as
Closing Plenary - A call to action
governmental and non-governmental sectors.
Other possible tracks and parallel events
AGEDI Partnership Challenge Meeting
Ecological Footprint Meeting
Approximately 600+ high-level participants will be invited, UAE National Environmental Database Meeting
representing the following constituencies: Development Community Forum
All UN member states (particularly ministers of the environment and
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Forum
environmental protection agencies) Rio +20 Earth Summit commitment
UN family that are members of The Environment Management Group (EMG)
and a regionally-based sample of UN Resident Coordinators
International and regional organizations working in the eld of environmental
protection and sustainable development Exhibition
Non-governmental organizations (global, regional, and sub-regional) Stakeholder Showcase - A venue bringing all partners and stakeholders under
Scienti c and technical institutions that are considered to be centres of one roof focusing on one common cause. Spaces will be clustered
excellence in environmental assessment and reporting geographically or topically, allowing partners to showcase their work and
The private sector, particularly the ICT sector messages through creative, interactive, and passive visual elements. There will
Media also be a room for speci c presentations.
Eye on Earth Theatre - Video(s) highlighting the need and vision for Global EIN,
along with UAE’s vision for a sustainable environment for a sustainable future, as
well as the Abu Dhabi government’s core environmental focus area and
The Summit builds on several decades of wide-ranging initiatives such as EIONET, GSDI, GEO/GEOSS, SERVIR, US NSDI, and deliverables for local, regional, and international communities.
others, related to the e ective development and utilization of environmental information. The Summit leverages the Technology Showcase - Highlighting existing and emerging technologies
aligned interests of existing national, regional, and international environmental information federations, the latest supporting the capture, management, analysis and visualization of
technological developments and capacity building worldwide, the International Environmental Governance (IEG) agenda, environmental information around the world.
and the continued commitment and support of the UAE AGEDI programme. Innovation Forum - Involving & engaging the stakeholder community in
capacity building programs, orchestrating youth debates, incorporating cultural
In general terms, the Summit seeks to identify a body of principles and elements shared in common by the federations, to aspects and the environment.
strengthen existing initiatives, and build on and synergize commonalities. A systematic approach would revitalize and
strengthen multilateral cooperation among a wide array of stakeholders connected through a network of networks in order Proposed parallel events
to bridge the environmental knowledge gap. This will be achieved by integrating existing environmental information Televised Debate - In partnership with major global media channels, highlight
systems and networks and building new ones where appropriate, building capacity, and taking advantage of cutting-edge issue of Climate Change and its implications for the Middle East and North
information and communication technologies. The Eye on Earth Summit-Abu Dhabi 2010 will convene the primary policy Africa Region.
and technical actors from around the world, build consensus regarding the way forward, and establish mutual Eye on Earth Concert - A concert for a sustainable planet.
commitments to do so.

For more information please contact eoe@ead.ae