Aarhus Convention Task Force on Aarhus Convention Task Force on Electronic Information ToolsElectronic Information Tools

Geneva, 26-27 January 2004Geneva, 26-27 January 2004

Chris Jarvis

Information Policy Manager

Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency• Non Departmental Public Body responsible to

Department of the Environment

• Wide range of duties and powers relating to environmental management

• 11,000 staff across England and Wales

• 8 Regional Offices, 26 Area Offices

• ~100 staff respond to >350,000 requests

• We place a high priority on the provision of information in achieving environmental goals

Local communities

Students

Schoolchildren

Teachers

Consultants

Solicitors

Business

Data WIYBY

WIYBY: One size fits allWIYBY: One size fits all

Data WIYBY

Standalone Information ServicesStandalone Information Services

Data Flood warning

Data Reporting

Data Internal

Reporting

WIYBY V2

eDecisions

Documents

Education

What’s happening/have your say, local data to analyse, etc.

Communities

e.g. libraries - what’s happening in your area

Individuals

Publications

Local Government

Insurance, Consultancies and other spin offs

Land Development

Commercial

Residential

Data

Property Search

Company identifier

Financial Investment

Financial Services

Defra/UNEP Capacity Building ProjectDefra/UNEP Capacity Building Project

• Funded by UK/Defra Environment

• EECCA countries

• UNEP

• EA

Defra/UNEP Capacity Building ProjectDefra/UNEP Capacity Building Project

• countries will benefit from shared benefits and experiences, and shared and co-ordinated resources (e.g. licensing agreements)

• interoperable systems and common standards will allow information to be shared, accessed and used without confinement to political boundaries

• consider relevance to the use, development and applicability of the UNEP.net global portal

Project OutlineProject Outline

• Capacity Building

• Develop pilots/proof of concepts

• Deliver a framework

– common requirements

– engender consistency

– identification of funding streams

– identification of user needs

Project FrameworkProject Framework

• Derivation and Assessment of a framework for the delivery of information services that includes:

- Definition of user needs

- Definition of data and information requirements and associated standards

- Interoperable technical architecture

- Identification of funding streams and opportunities

- Resolution of data policy and legal issues

- Impact analysis

Current StageCurrent Stage• Participating in UNEP workshop in Kiev (26-29 Jan

04):

Provide an introduction to the Environment Agency’s experience in providing environmental information

Provide a summary of the Environment Agency’s future direction in moving to tailored information services

Gain preliminary input to the UNEP/EA capacity building project to develop a framework for electronic information services

Current StageCurrent Stage

• Stand alone workshop in ECCA Region (Spring 04):

Develop the framework

Propose and develop pilot(s)

Report on output, inc. proposals on way forward/ further stage of project