In the Spotlights
Decision-makers are faced with the constant challenge of maintaining access to and understanding new technologies and data, as information and communication technologies (ICTs) are constantly evolving and as more and more data is becoming available. Despite continually improving technologies, informed decision-making is being hindered by inadequate attention to enabling conditions, e.g. a lack of in-service education and professional training for decision-makers. Decision-makers are in a position to greatly benefit from this data revolution and to better shape management strategies and make more informed, data-driven decisions if they have a periodic overview of emerging technologies and their potential applications.
ISEPEI, the joint project of UNEP's Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) and Central European University (Budapest, Hungary), was launched in 2013 to bridge this gap between decision-makers and ICTs. Through a series of international capacity building events, ISEPEI has connected United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, ICT experts, and environmental practitioners, bringing professionals up-to-date on the latest advances in ICTs and their potential use in a wide variety of applications.
The project began as a part of Eye on Earth, a global initiative comprised of a diverse set of stakeholders from around the world, striving to enable the generation, maintenance and application of environmental, societal and economic data and information to support informed decision-making for sustainable development. Originally developed as an Eye on Environmental Education Special Initiative project, ISEPEI has been actively developing and strengthening synergies with other thematic initiatives within the Eye on Earth movement, including Eye on Water Security, Eye on Disaster Management, and Eye on Community Sustainability and Resiliency. The work of the ISEPEI Project and of Eye on Earth stakeholders around the world was highlighted at the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi on October 6-8, 2015.
The next ISEPEI workshop will take place in Summer 2024. This workshop will examine the role of ICTs and geospatial technologies in monitoring Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on Early Warnings for All, and will once again bring together environmental and ICT industry leaders, expanding decision-makers' capacity to make more informed, data-driven decisions. READ MORE ABOUT EVENTS >>