Eye on Earth Summit, 12-15 December 2011, UAE

Through the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), the Government of Abu Dhabi organised a global summit devoted to the issue of greater access to environmental and societal information. 

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) hosted the Eye on Earth Summit on December 12-15, 2011 in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Summit was preceded by a civil society forum on 11 December 2011, in Abu Dhabi.

The purpose of the Summit is to promote the international agenda for improved access and ability to use and leverage environmental data and information for the benefit of all communities of our global society.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates invited over 700 decision makers in Governments, intergovernmental organisations, the donor community, the UN system agencies, major groups, particularly business and industry, the science community and other civil society actors. The Summit was a multi-stakeholder consultation accompanied by a major exhibition that includes many side events.

An expected outcome of the Summit was a clear statement on ways and means to strengthen existing initiatives and fill gaps towards informed policy making in support of a sustainable future. In addition, it is anticipated that a number of special initiatives to strengthen capacities in developing countries will be formulated with commitments form the donor community.

As we prepare for Rio+20 in 2012, the Eye on the Earth Summit represents an important opportunity and milestone to focus attention on the collective efforts of making the best environmental information available to support decision-making in order to achieve sustainable development, reduce poverty and transform the global economy.

AgendaPreliminary Agenda for the Eye on Earth Summit 2011, Abu Dhabi

Summit Documents

Eye on Earth: UAE, UNEP sign Summit Declaration to be submitted to 2012 Earth Summit in Rio

Eye on Earth Summit: Green accounting, biodiversity protection, access to information and leading by example – it’s all linked

President Bill Clinton at the Eye on Earth Summit: inequality, bad financial systems root causes of global inability to adapt to a changing world

Remarks by Achim Steiner, UN Environment Programme Executive Director (UNEP) Eye on Earth Summit—From a Moment to a Movement

Closing Address by H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

For more information, please visit www.eyeonearthsummit.org