Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Introduction
Informed decision-making requires integrated, relevant, timely and easy accessible information and its appropriate assessment. To achieve this, adequate monitoring programmes, data and information management systems, assessment and reporting routines and methods have to be in place. The UNECE Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Programme assists member States in working with environmental data and information to ensure their timely flow and adequate assessment. In this way, the Programme helps enable informed decision-making processes, both nationally and internationally, in the environmental sector.
In focus
At the Seventh Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Astana, 2011) it was decided to develop a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) across the pan-European region. During the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi, Georgia, in June 2016 progress in achieving the SEIS was reviewed, including a discussion of the main achievements and challenges and the way forward. At the Ninth Ministerial Conference, held in Nicosia in October 2022, Ministers heard that SEIS had been established across Europe and Central Asia. Nonetheless, work continues to strengthen the availability and use of environmental information, using the SEIS principles as a guide. A review of the environmental theme “air quality and air pollution” was completed in 2024 and a review of "waste and circular economy" begun.
The work on the Shared Environmental Information System is closely linked with the continuous development of environmental indicators -- see the 2023 Edition of the Guidelines on the Application of Environmental Indicators.
Highlights
The final review of the establishment of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) in Europe and Central Asia was completed in 2021 and the report launched in 2022.
The seventh pan-European environmental assessment was launched at the Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference.
Upcoming Events
10 - 11 April
Geneva
Switzerland
Recent Events
06 - 08 November
Salle XXI, Palais des Nations Geneva Switzerland
17 - 18 October
Geneva Switzerland
20 - 21 June
CR6 on the 7th floor of the C-building at the Vienna International Conference Centre Vienna Austria
and online
