EU environmental information systems
In-depth information and data on specialized environmental topics
Description
The EU Environmental Information Systems are a collection of online electronic information systems available that are managed by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) and their partners, and include: 1) the Biodiversity Information System for Europe; 2) Climate-ADAPT; 3) Climate and Energy in the EU; 4) the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS); 5) the Copernicus In Situ component; 6) the European Climate and Health Observatory; 7) the European Industrial Emissions Portal; 8) the Forest Information System for Europe; 9) the Freshwater Information System for Europe; and 10) the Marine Water Information System for Europe.
Technology
The EEA hosts a range of digital technologies within its environmental information systems, integrating satellite remote sensing (notably, via the Copernicus Earth Observation programme), geographic information systems (GIS), data analytics and cloud computing. Systems such as the Copernicus in-situ component are equipped with physical data collection tools sourced from external providers for the collection of ground-based, sea-borne or air-borne monitoring systems, as well as geospatial reference or ancillary data, referred to collectively as “in situ” data. Data management and interoperability are ensured through such platforms as the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) and the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE), ensuring the production of harmonized and accessible environmental data. Together, these technologies help monitor air and water quality, biodiversity, climate and land use, supporting EU-wide environmental policy and compliance tracking.
Target
EU environmental information systems support the legal mandate of the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET), managed by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which gathers and standardizes data from across the Member States. The data in these systems are provided and used by EEA member countries, namely, the EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye, and can be accessed also by cooperating countries, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. The open data can be accessed also by farmers, farmers’ organizations, researchers, policy analysts and rural communities concerned with environmental conditions and trends.
Business model
Funding for the European Union’s environmental information systems comes primarily from the European Union budget, with specific allocations from environmental and research funding programmes. Contributions may also be made occasionally by public-private partnerships, the national budgets of Member States and collaborations with other international organizations. The use of the data offered by the environmental information systems is free of charge, and depending on the data, can be accessed anonymously or via an official confirmation.
Impact
As of November 2024, the EU Environmental Information Systems have gathered data from 38 member and cooperating countries and 400+ national partner institutions, with 200+ datasets and 295+ employees. The systems play a significant role in the EU environmental governance as a source of accurate and current data that informs policy decisions, ensures compliance and tracks environmental targets across the Member States.
Partners
European Environment Information and Observation Network; European Commission Directorates-General for Environment (DG ENV), for Climate Action (DG CLIMA); for Research and Innovation (DG R&I), the Joint Research Centre (JRC), for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS); Eurostat; European Commission’s DGs on the knowledge base for European environment and climate policy.
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
