About UNEP/GRID-Warsaw
UNEP/GRID-Warsaw: Promoting Sustainable Development through Environmental Information
UNEP/GRID-Warsaw is a center affiliated with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that focuses on collecting, processing, and disseminating information about the environment. The center also promotes the use of spatial information and geographic information systems (GIS) in implementing sustainable development policies.
The center was established in 1991 as part of UNEP's Global Resource Information Database (GRID) network. Its mission is to support environmental decision-making by providing reliable and up-to-date data, analysis, and tools to policymakers, researchers, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
One of UNEP/GRID-Warsaw's main areas of expertise is environmental monitoring. The center collects data from various sources such as satellite imagery, ground-based sensors, and citizen science initiatives to create maps and models that show the state of the environment at different scales - from local to global. This information can be used to identify trends, assess risks and vulnerabilities, monitor progress towards sustainability goals such as those set by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or support disaster response efforts.
Another important aspect of UNEP/GRID-Warsaw's work is capacity building. The center provides training courses on GIS applications for environmental management to professionals from developing countries or regions facing specific environmental challenges such as climate change adaptation or biodiversity conservation. These courses aim at enhancing participants' skills in using spatial data for decision-making processes related to natural resource management or urban planning.
In addition to its core activities related to environmental monitoring and capacity building, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw also carries out research projects on topics such as ecosystem services valuation or land-use change analysis using remote sensing techniques. The results of these studies are published in scientific journals or presented at international conferences.
Overall, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable development by providing access to high-quality environmental information that can inform policy decisions at all levels - from local communities to global institutions like the UN. Its commitment towards open data sharing principles also contributes towards creating a more transparent and participatory governance system where citizens can engage with decision-makers based on evidence-based arguments rather than opinions alone.
If you are looking for reliable sources of environmental data or want to enhance your skills in GIS applications for sustainability purposes - whether you are an individual professional or represent an organization - do not hesitate to contact UNEP/GRID-Warsaw!