Using Integrated Information Management Systems for Multilateral Environmental Agreements(MEA) Reporting – The Case of Antigua and Barbuda

Challenge

Small Island Developing States are facing unprecedented challenges with respect to climate change.  More frequent and powerful storms, sea level rise, and increased sea surface temperature are a few examples of the pressing issues these countries are dealing with. In order to adapt to climate change, and environmental change in general, governments need timely, accurate, and spatially distributed environmental data. This data is also a necessity for multi-lateral environmental Aagreement (MEA) reporting. 

MEA reporting is an essential aspect of reaching global climate change targets, conserving biodiversity, and combatting desertification and land degradation. The Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, UNCBD, UNCCD) serve as the global mechanisms for addressing these critical issues.The Secretariats of all three Rio Conventions want to see mainstreaming of their priority actions into decision making at the national level.  In order to do so indicators need to be widely understood and the appropriate data gathered. It is expected that this webinar will demonstrate innovative methods for improving MEA reporting and national environmental information management.

Technical Solution

For MEA reporting to be effective, there needs to be a sufficient amount of data gathered at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. Rigorous, accurate, and timely reporting requires that this data be accessible in formats that can align with existing MEA reporting methods.  The CTCN's Network Member, Design and Environment (DE) of Canada and Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) have worked with the government of Antigua and Barbuda over the last year and a half to develop their National Environmental Data and Information System (NEIS) to help improve their capacity for reporting to the UNFCCC, UNCCD, and UNCBD. The information system will support these efforts as well as facilitate national environmental management in general.

Webinar attendees will learn about environmental information management and MEA reporting in the context of Antigua and Barbuda’s newly launched National Environmental Data and Information System.  DE & MGI will share their insights and expertise as the designers and architects of the system and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will share their experience with the process and some of the benefits they have begun to see. Opportunities for using the DE & MGI approach (called CORE EIS LINK) for fostering climate resilience and building the blue / green economies will also be discussed. 

This webinar will provide an overview of the process for implementing national environmental data and information systems and how they can help countries adapt to and fight climate change. Key points covered will be:

• NEIS role in reporting to Rio Conventions and meeting policy targets (e.g. Paris Agreement, Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme (LDN TSP), SDGs)
• data acquisition considerations
• data sharing, management, and alignment with national environmental management processes
• mainstreaming and implementation of NEIS platforms

Speakers 

• Mr. David Oswald, Founder and President – DE Design + Environment Inc

• Dr. Ava Maxam, Deputy Director – Mona Geoinformatics Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona

• Mr. Jason Williams, Data Manager – Department of Sustainable Development, Government of Antigua and Barbuda

Register here. 

Recording