Page 9 - Module_1_EN

Module
1
Course Materials

1 Introduction and learning objectives

The objective of the module is to introduce the Global Environment Outlook (GEO)
integrated environmental assessment (IEA) and reporting process. Throughout this Abu Dhabi, UAE
report GEO refers to assessment processes led by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the associated products, while IEA is used for assessment
processes and products that follow the GEO style.

You will learn why the IEA approach is necessary for making policy relevant
recommendations about the environmental state and trends, and links with human
development. The material covered in this module highlights the need for an enabling
mandate to undertake an environmental assessment; the mandate of UNEP; the objectives

of the GEO assessment; the scope and objectives of the th fifth GEO assessment (GEO-
5); and its analytic framework. The module also deals with issues related to international
environmental governance and the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and
Capacity Building. The Bali Strategic Plan was adopted by the UNEP Governing Council/
Global Ministerial Environmental Forum at its 2002 session. Its purpose is to improve the
effectiveness of capacity building, and to address capacity gaps and needs identified by

assessments of existing activities. Examples of GEO assessments at the global, regional,
national and sub-national levels illustrate the approach taken and the kinds of results that
can be obtained using the GEO approach.

Successful completion of this module will allow you to do the following:
? Understand the mandate and role of UNEP in environmental assessment and
reporting, and in capacity building;

? Describe the objective and scope of the GEO assessment;

? Compare and contrast IEA in the context of the first four GEO reports and the
GEO 5 process; and
? Become familiar with examples of regional, national and sub-national GEO and IEA
processes.

IEA Training Manual Workshop for the National Reporting Toolkit (NRT) 7