DEWA wiki

Relates to 2010-11 PoW Outputs 441 and 522

Derives from Decision UNEP/GC.25/2: "World environmental situation":

"14. Requests the Executive Director to elaborate further on the requirements for a migration to targeted assessments on thematic priority areas supported by a UNEP-Live enabling framework13 and to report thereon to the Governing Council at its twenty-sixth session in 2011."
(see http://www.unep.org/gc/gc25/Docs/Proceeding-FINAL.pdf for complete text, also attached below)

and described in UNEP/GC.25/INF/34 as

Option 5:

_{Targeted assessments on thematic priority areas supported by a “UNEP-live” enabling framework}

• The type of assessments produced under option 5 is the most innovative and technologically-driven of the different options. However, this type of endeavour has to be carried out in a step-wise fashion as we build a whole new architecture to support a new way of delivering and creating UNEP’s global assessments, and it cannot be achieved in time to support the next global assessment due in 2012. It therefore represents a longer-term objective with regard to responsiveness and capacity that UNEP would eventually like to develop and host. The products and assessments will be based on a virtual, dynamic, system-based and interactive platform which processes and analyses data and information, and cultivates and facilitates participatory expert discussion groups to help better understand the complexities and interactions between society and the natural environment. The UNEP-live framework provides a highly interactive, issue-driven ‘instrument panel’ where decision-makers have easy access to assessment findings, syntheses, summaries and technical briefs. Search engines will make it possible for users to modify variables of their choosing in various regions, in order to understand and anticipate likely scenarios, as well as investigate potential impacts, occurrences and emerging environmental, economic and social issues. A electronic knowledge base compendium will also be available, to support more in-depth and thorough investigation of the environmental state and trends, indicators, data and outlooks.

• Capacity building methodologies, training modules and tools will be made available online as well as continuously updated data, information and assessment findings. The objective is to have a platform with a wide reach and accessibility which could be used to carry assessments at global or sub-global levels and engage and attract diverse group of experts, stakeholders and decision-makers.

  (see http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-x/download.asp?ID=1104 for full text, also attached below).

The original design concept, as developed by Neeyati Patel, Thierry de Oliviera and Mick Wilson in mid-2008 is represented at left (click through to full-sized version). Animated PPT showing development of the concept is attached below