SEIS as a part of the 7th Environment Action Programme of EU

Convenor: Johannes Mayer, Chris Steenmans

Implementation of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) principle of ‘produce once, use often’ and the common approaches and standards on acquisition and collation of spatial information under the INSPIRE and Copernicus/GMES systems will help avoid duplication of effort and eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens on public authorities, as will efforts to streamline reporting obligations under different pieces of legislation. There are still significant gaps in knowledge, some of them relevant to this programme's priority objectives. In this session we will discuss about further implementation of SEIS and research to fill these gaps. The most important gap is in advanced research to fill data and knowledge gaps and adequate modelling tools are needed to better understand complex issues related to environmental change, such as climate change and disaster impacts, the implications of species loss for ecosystem services, environmental thresholds and ecological tipping points. While available evidence fully warrants precautionary action in these areas, further research into planetary boundaries, systemic risks and our society’s ability to cope with them will support the development of the most appropriate responses. This should include investment in closing data and knowledge gaps, mapping and assessing ecosystem services, understanding the role of biodiversity in underpinning them and how they adapt to climate change.
This is essential to ensure that public authorities and businesses have a sound basis for taking decisions which fully reflect true social, economic and environmental benefits and costs.