Abu Dhabi Summit to Catalyse Global Support for Enhanced Environmental Decision Making in Emerging Economies

ABU DHABI, UAE, June 7, 2011 -

Abu Dhabi will host the first Eye on Earth Summit on December
12-15 2011, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). The summit will focus on the issue of greater access to environmental
and societal data.

Over the past ten years, Abu Dhabi has undertaken to develop
thought and practice leadership in the field of environmental data. In 2002,
at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi
launched, under the guidance and patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental
Data Initiative (AGEDI) designed to help the world's emerging economies
acquire and best use environmental information.

Despite progress, much remains to be done: missing,
inaccessible or hidden data cannot contribute to decision-making. Flawed
judgments may result, with serious consequences. Abu Dhabi's Eye on Earth
aims to find the solutions that will fill those gaps, helping the world move
towards a more sustainable future based on informed policy-making.

Eye on Earth will address this challenge by convening world
leaders, the environmental and societal information networking movement and
others to identify and celebrate 'best-impact'; those data initiatives from
around the globe delivering greatest benefit,; reach a consensus on the key
issues regarding greater data accessibility and encourage stakeholders to
collaborate to strengthen existing initiatives and, where necessary, to
launch new ones.

The Summit will be hosted by the Environment Agency - Abu
Dhabi, facilitated by the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative
(AGEDI) and held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). An Eye on Earth Exhibition will showcase the latest developments in
environmental information and technology.

"Across the world, sharing information has always been crucial
to good decision-making. Ensuring that environmental and societal data is
accessible to all those who need it whether scientists, communities,
governments or thought-leaders, is essential to moving the world towards a
future founded on informed policy-making. This is especially the case in
emerging economies and to ensure sustainable development patterns. I am very
proud that EAD will be hosting this summit," said H.E. Razan Khalifa Al
Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD.

Welcoming the announcement of the Summit, Achim Steiner,
Executive Director of UNEP said: "In the run-up to the 2012 UN Conference on
Sustainable Development,

Eye on Earth presents a timely opportunity to identify
practical measures to bridge the environmental knowledge gap and deliver the
information and data needed to support a transition to a low carbon, resource
efficient global Green Economy."

For more information, please visit www.eyeonearthsummit.org

About Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD)

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) was established in
1996 to preserve Abu Dhabi's natural heritage, protect our future, and raise
awareness about environmental issues. EAD is Abu Dhabi's environmental
regulator and advises the government on environmental policy. It works to
create sustainable communities, and protect and conserve wildlife and natural
resources. EAD also works to ensure integrated and sustainable water
resources management, to ensure clean air and minimise climate change and its
impacts. For more information, visit www.ead.ae

About Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI)

Conceived by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and launched
by the Abu Dhabi Government in 2002, under the guidance and patronage of His
Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, AGEDI
provides user-friendly access to high-quality environmental information,
through a variety of information products. While EAD champions AGEDI locally,
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) champions it regionally and
globally. AGEDI's objectives include; to enhance environmental data
collection and assessment, to increase data capacities for local, national,
regional, and global environmental decision making, to ensure sustainable
development planning is based on quality, timely, useable, and updated data
and information, to provide accessibility of data and information to all
stakeholders, to enhance national and international mechanisms of information
processing and exchange and to enhance national capacities in information
handling and communications. For more information, visit www.agedi.ae

About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP is the designated authority of the United Nations system
in environmental issues at the global and regional level. UNEP's mission is
'to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the
environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to
improve their quality of life without compromising that of future
generations'. UNEP is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information,
visit www.unep.org

For media enquiries, please contact:

Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), Sobhia Al Masry, Media Specialist,
EAD Press Office, Tel: +9712 6934-637, Mobile: +971-50-442-5096, Email:
pressoffice@ead.ae

Or United Nations Environment Programme, Contact: Nick Nuttall, UNEP
Spokesperson / Head of Media, Tel: +254 733 632755, Email:
nick.nuttall@unep.org

Adel Abdel-Kader, UNEP, Regional Coordinator, West Asia, on Tel.
+973-17812785, Mobile +973-36044899 or E-mail: adel.abdelkader@unep.org

Mia Turner, UNEP Newsdesk on Tel. +254-20-7625211, Mobile +254-710620495
or E-mail: Mia.Turner@unep.org or unepnewsdesk@unep.org

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