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The Eye on Earth Summit 2015 has concluded in Abu Dhabi with a commitment to help the global community meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a call on delegates to improve the availability of, and access to, data and information for sustainable development.
In her closing remarks, Summit host, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, said leaders of the so-called Eye on Earth Alliance had committed to finding ways to help meet the SDGs.
“We need to commit to a shared future where environmental and societal data can improve decisions that lead to a more sustainable planet,” said Al Mubarak.
Addressing the Summit on its opening day, Naoko Ishii, Global Environment Facility CEO and Chairperson, pointed to the SDGs as a clear recognition that protection of the global commons is essential for achieving development ambitions.
“We are pushing the earth to its limits - its planetary boundaries - and urgent coordinated actions are needed to get it back into a safe operating place,” said Ishii.
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She highlighted the potential power of data for improving the quality of GEF-supported projects. “Better data is indispensable,” she said.
She also stressed the need for greater attention to accessibility and affordability of data, noting that deeper analysis was required to enable links between science and data to enable effective policymaking.
The three day Eye on Earth Summit 2015 focused on finding ways to drive further international action to revolutionize the way we collect, access, share and use data and information for sustainable development.
Themed "Informed Decision-Making for Sustainable Development", delegates looked at ways to identify how governments, technology, the scientific community and citizen participation can enhance access to quality data and information.
Additional Resources
- GEF CEO Statement at Eye On Earth Summit
- Leaders at Eye on Earth Summit 2015 commit to helping the global community meet the Sustainable Development Goals
- IISD Report
- Eye on Earth Summit 2015