UNEP Live, a cutting-edge, dynamic new platform to collect, process and share the world’s best environmental science and research, was launched on 16 January in Geneva.

UNEP Live will provide data access to both the public and policy makers using distributed networks, cloud computing, big data and improved search functions.

The platform was launched as more than 700 attendees representing the environmental, space, telecommunications and insurance communities gathered at the Tenth Plenary Session of the Group on Earth Observations and the Geneva Ministerial Summit (GEO-X).

Throughout the week, participants discussed the value of earth observation for better understanding and improving human wellbeing.

One of the themes that clearly emerged from the meeting was that significant gaps remain in the collection, analysis and dissemination of environmental data. Indeed, policy making “in the dark” - under high levels of uncertainty and without concrete data - carries high risks and transactional costs that need to be minimized. End users must be able to access data in a meaningful way. To that end, UNEP Live will fill gaps between data providers and consumers.

It will focus on the latest information and emerging issues. Through the platform’s apps, multimedia content and digital publishing tools, users will have access to data from UNEP, national and regional resources and other knowledge and data providers.

Moreover, through these tools and resources, UNEP Live will extend the knowledge base for global environmental policy-making and evidence-based analysis.

It will also support the streamlining of national monitoring, reporting and verification of data for global and regional environmental goals, including the post-2015 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Among the goals of UNEP Live is to provide full and open access to information to people around the world.

See more at

www.unep.org/uneplive