““Information Society Information Society TechnologiesTechnologies

and the Environment”and the Environment”

H.SAARENMAA, European Environment AgencyW. BOCH, European Commission, DG XIII

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What is What is Information SocietyInformation Society

A society where a majority of production comes through processing of information and services based on that

An electronic democracy where citizens are informed at proper stages of planning and can participate in decision-making

A networked society of participation and co-operation where some new rules apply

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Networking means Networking means co-operationco-operation

Stages of empowering stakeholdersInformationEnabling: network build-upParticipation, linking toCo-operation

True progress is possible only when you can build on work made by others, maximizing work-share benefits

Co-operation is surprisingly difficult, because it means giving up something

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Caveats in Information Caveats in Information SocietySociety

Information overloadFlat organisations, email speed, imbalanced

expectations of efficiency, escalation of meetings Outdated forms of information

Can you compete on and with AltaVista Search? Being technology-driven

but allow some… Duplicated efforts and networks

Learn to add value, integrate networks with others

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Information Society and Information Society and the Environmentthe Environment

Environmental issues -- info needs cross-cuttingSustainability as guiding principle on all sectors

Citizens are stakeholders in environmental decision makingCurrent ways of co-operating are not sufficientHuge market for simple environmental information

Improve by exposing: data and environmentEU Directive on access to environmental informationUS EPA experience

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OpportunitiesOpportunities

ESPRIT (DGIII) Environment and Climate Programme (DG XII) Telematics Applications Programme (DGXIII) for

Environment 4th Framework Programme 1994-1998

Exploratory action, 26 projects, 23 MECU 5th Framework Programme1998-2002

Full implementation, about 100 MECU

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Future research activities in the 5th FP

Four thematic programmes and budget Improving the quality of life and management of living

resources (2650 MECU) Creating a user friendly information society (3925 MECU) Promoting competitive and sustainable growth (3100

MECU) Preserving the ecosystem, which will address energy and

the environment in an integrated manner (2100 MECU)

Present and future Present and future EU R&D activitiesEU R&D activities

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“Creating a User Friendly I Society”Key action 1: Systems and services for the citizen Intelligent environmental monitoring, analysis,

forecasting and decision support Information and management support tools and

systems for sustainable development Real time high performance risk and emergency

management systems and services Support action for technological development

Present and future Present and future EU R&D activitiesEU R&D activities

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Examples of critical issues

Expected benefits from Expected benefits from R&DR&D

a) Water Resources (quality and quantity)

b) Air Pollution

c) Earthquakes

d) Global Warming

e) Black Sea disaster

f) Energy Management

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Market Employment Sustainability Transport Telematics Solutions

Expected benefits from Expected benefits from R&DR&D

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ConclusionConclusion

The new economies and rules of Information Society

Global nature of Information SocietyServices as catalyst and enablers to put

the principle of sustainable development into action

A huge opportunity in EU and CEECThe moment to build partnerships is now