EAD and UNEP sign landmark agreement to establish the joint Eye on Earth Secretariat

The Abu Dhabi Summit brought together over 900 multi-sector stakeholders to address the issue of "access to environmental and societal data and information by all those who need it" and advance the sustainable development agenda.

The Summit endorsed the Eye on Earth Declaration and approved eight Eye on Earth Special Initiatives encompassing the following 5 critical issue areas - Oceans & Blue Carbon, Disaster Management, Water Security, Community Sustainability and Resiliency, and Biodiversity.

The thematic centric Special Initiatives are underpinned by 3 cross-cutting, foundation Special Initiatives; Global Network of Networks, Environmental Education and Access to Information. Technology support and capacity building for developing countries will be mainstreamed into all eight initiatives.

The new Secretariat will commence work immediately and among its priority actions will be the implementation of the Special Initiatives; partnership building and networking, expanding the Eye on Earth Community; delivering integrated information services, capacity building and promoting the principles of the Declaration.

The integration of the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development is a theme running through 'The Future We Want'. This is also an objective of the Eye on Earth process but the focus is on data access and integration and the delivery of interoperable information services. The Eye on Earth Community is therefore well positioned to assist the post-UNCSD process by fostering knowledge sharing for sustainable development and a Green Economy.

It was announced that the next Eye on Earth Summit will be held in 2014 in Abu Dhabi.