UNEP Mandate To keep the world environmental situation

UNEP Mandate To keep the world environmental situation under review Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) “Providing scientific information for decision making” Veronica Grasso, Ph. D. United Nations Environment Programme

WHY? Vision: Everyone in the world should have access to information about what is happening to his/her environment Mission: Providing scientific information for decision making Goal: Empower people with engaging environmental information Through GEAS, UNEP will become Information Broker of scientifically credible data and information to public and decision makers;

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) Sources GEAS Output Near-Real Time Information on Environmental Hazards (air pollution, Lake’s water level, etc. ) Component 1 Scientific Research Earth Observation Systems Scientific News Near-Real Time Environmental Hazards Alerts Component 2 Change Analysis Environmental Hotspots Alerts Users UNEP and partners National Environment Ministries International Agencies Local knowledge Component 3 Environmental Science Alerts Scientific Findings Feedback Civil Society

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) GEAS Component 1 Near-Real Time Environmental Hazards Alerts Sources Earth Observation Systems and models Ground Information Local Knowledge Analysis Output/ Communication Web Service with Real-time Screening Integration Maps: Google Map, Google Earth Synthesis Packaging Early Warning Alert: E-mail, SMS.

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) GEAS Component 2 Environmental Hotspots Alerts Sources Analysis Output/ Communication Earth Observation Systems and models Screening Environmental Change case studies Ground Information Local Knowledge Integration Synthesis Packaging Google Earth Visualization 1973 and 2003 Iguazu, South America.

HOW? Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) GEAS Component 3 Environmental Science Alerts Sources Scientific Research Findings Analysis Output/ Communication Screening Integration Synthesis Packaging Science digest notes Malaria Early Warning for Sub Saharan Africa Recently, a group of scientists from the Center for Medium. Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, UK, developed a method for predicting malaria impact several months in advance. Malaria represents the most important parasitic infection in people causing more than 1 million deaths each year, mostly in Sub-Saharan ……. Unfortunately more often malaria treatments are not easily accessible and effective in Africa, especially to ones References Palmer T. N. , Alessandri A. , Andersen U. , …

HOW? Outreach and User Engagement. . Harnessing the power of new technologies • Use of standard format alerts: compatible with all information systems, warning systems, media, and most importantly, with new technologies such as web services. • A partnership with Google and the news media is being explored • Ongoing discussions to include GEAS in the GEO web portal • GEAS could become a content provider for GEONETCast

HOW? Outreach and User Engagement Profiling System Profile Manager Use this page to configure your preferences for GEAS’ weekly e Name: E-mail: Secret question: Answer: Confirm answer: Select one -mail update. Fields marked with * are required. * * Company: Country: E-mail delivery preferences: HTML Plain text Please select which components of the system you are interested in. Please select at least one component. Alerts Component (1) – information on environmental hazards in your area of interest Select th eme(s) of interest Cyclones Earthquakes Select location(s) of interest Lat: Fires Floods Long: Volcanic Eruptions Add Hotspots Component (2)– environmental change case studies Briefs Component (3) –news briefs covering new scientific findings Your e-mail add ress will not be disclosed to third parties without your authorization. By submitting this form you are subscribing to a weekly e -mail update service, which you can terminate at any time. Submit Give Feedback

GEAS – Near Real Time Component: Demo GEAS live Demo

GEAS – Hotspots Component: Google Earth Demo