ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES(ES)

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Lesson 32: Role of information and technology

Information technology in Environmental management

The understanding of environmental concerns and issues related to human health has exploded during the last few years due to the sudden growth of information technology. UNEP developed the satellite communication system and UNEP net – the green global Internet.

Need for information technology in Environmental management

Decision and policy makers as well as the general public in particular in the developing world, still have limited or no access to this information in an easily understandable form. To the date, politicians and citizens have not been able to feel any personal impact from the depletion of the ozone layer, climate change or loss of biodiversity. These are all emerging issues here scientists strongly recommend more prompt action than policymakers are able to implement. Therefore, bridging the gap between scientists and decision-makers for the purpose of environmental policy-making is today more important than ever.

Global Resource Information Database was established by UNEP in 1985 to bridge this gap and to provide the global society with updated and reliable environment information. Strategic tools to achieve this were geographical information technology for the analysis and presentation of information and telecommunications for the dissemination and exchange of information.