Josiane Masson, DG ENV.D4

15/01/2014

Earth Observation potential for

environmental policy making?

Environment policy making depends on timely, accurate info on the state of Earth and predictions about its future

Combined with 'in situ' data space EO can provide information on the state and evolution of land, atmosphere and oceans

Data collected and information can help better understanding the earth system – weather, climate, oceans, land, geology, natural resources, ecosystems and natural and human-induced hazards

Added value of EO:

Greater details – spatial dimension than ground observation alone

Consistent time-series across borders for evaluating changes and impact of environment policies and cross-comparison

Overview EO potential

• They need information which is already ‘aggregated’: environmental incators, statistics, thematic maps

• Sometimes gap to be filled between observation data and policy needs

• Need to accurate, up to date, reliable and sustainable information – times series essential for change detection and analysing the impact of policies

• Different sources are considered and combined..

• In situ observations: accurate but heavy collection, many data sources – continuity and harmonisation a key issue

• Earth observation: spaceborne but also airborne, UAVs...

• Other data: from citizens, Ngos, social networks, Internet....

Policy makers need information on the state an changes of our environment

EO can provide input for environmental policy making cycle…

Designing and developing policy, e.g. with better data on state of environment and changes, esp. long-term trends

Implementation of policy, support, where wanted, MS monitoring/reporting obligations

Reviewing effectiveness of policy, check compliance, assessments of impacts – have changes happened?

Data for indicators on the state of environment, e.g. State of Ecosystem and Biodiv SEBI, beyond GDP ….

Information to the public (+authorities), e.g. air quality, oil /chemical spills

Overview EO potential

EO can support the 7th EAP (EU environmental Action Plan to 2020) at various level

•9 Priority objectives

3 THEMATIC:

1. Natural capital

2. Resource efficient, low-carbon growth

3. Health & environment

4 'ENABLING':

4.Implementation

5.Knowledge/evidence base

6.Investment

7.Integration

2 'SPATIAL':

8.Urban environment

9.International

The 7th EAP Screening EO potential

Priority objective 1: to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital

Main messages

Better implement existing legislation and strategies

New element: the degradation, fragmentation and unsustainable use of land in the EU is jeopardising the provision of several key ecosystem services, threatening biodiversity and increasing Europe’s vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters

=> future action (and targets) on soil and on land as a resource

7th EAP: soils & land

From global…

…to pan-European…

…to local

Need for Global Scale Information

• Global Impact of European activities (e.g. Tourism, Trade, Raw Material, Biofuels…) …. footprint

• International Treaties & Monitoring under Conventions (Desertification, Climate, Biodiversity)

• European impact on Global environment + vice versa (emerging economies)

Important to have information on Land cover/use changes at global level

Support especially for Land degradation/ Desertification / Droughts / Food

security Global Biodiversity and reduction of its loss Deforestation (FLEGT, REDD+, LULUCF,..)

Need for Continental Information

• European overview needed, across frontiers, interest in high resolution land cover and land cover change products for a number of policies, e.g. - soil: e.g. soil sealing, urban sprawl, contamination, degradation- water: WFD, Floods Dir., Nitrates Dir.

“Blueprint for water“- biodiversity: concept of green infra-

structure, „Strategy 2020“ - forests: „Green Paper“ on European

monitoring etc.

-> Pan-European Land cover products derived from Earth Observation: Corine Land Cover, new 'High Resolution' Copernicus land cover products

“Zooming in”: Hotspot Information

Information about areas of special interest; e.g. trends / changes; setting benchmarks for policy

Ex: Copernicus 'local' component providing periodic information-> Urban Atlas: Larger Urban Zones (EU Regional policy part of Copernicus local component)-> Biodiversity component-> Further extension to other areas of interest: Natura 2000 sites, coastal areas

Changes in habitats in Austria

• Habitats change

• Monitoring water habitats

LAKE TURBIDIT

Y

Copernicus atmospheric services

Forecast of nitrogen dioxide

- An individual regional forecast can provide a fine-scale depiction of plumes, modulated by the daily cycle of the pollutant

- Models help to quantify the relative importance of local emission sources and transboundary air pollution.

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(μg/m3)

Marine (myOcean): Eutrophication

ChlorophyllSurface Chlorophyll A

Thanks for your attention!