The lack of both quality and quantity of environmental data has proven a major hindrance to the global process of achieving sustainable development during the past decade, particularly in developing countries. The result is that socio-economic and environmental sectors throughout the world, but particularly those of developing countries, are losing valuable assets as a result of inaccurate decision making caused by the lack of useable quality data.
In this spirit, the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) was launched on 2 September 2002, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, 26 August- 4 September 2002, by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a Type II Initiative.
The UAE is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The UAE occupies an area along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital and the largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name.
Initially contributing to the development and launch of AGEDI was UAE’s concern about the approach and criteria used for the results of the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), produced by the World Economic Forum in February 2002. The UAE in this Index was ranked 141 out of 142 countries, with an ESI of 25.7.
A steering panel was therefore formed and was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the AGEDI proposal which was made public on May 2, 2002. This panel also consulted with delegates at the WSSD preparatory meeting in Bali. International dialogue took place which promoted the Initiative in the United States, United Nations as well as with international media organizations.
The Initiative supports the mandates of Chapters 8 and 40 of Agenda 21, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and the WSSD Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (POI). Further references to environmental data within Agenda 21 include chapter 4, chapter 6, chapter 7 and chapter 9.
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