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Module Data from international, national and regional monitoring systems are often compiled in databases.
4 National monitoring systems are sometimes able to draw on data from both the regional or ecosystem

level and international sources, such as statistical compilations of data from UN or other international
agencies. International satellite observation systems provide valuable information as well. At the same
time, international organizations often use data collected at national—and sometimes regional—levels

to compile global databases. Thus, in practice the data collection and dissemination flows can be quite
9-12 December, 2013 initiated to harmonize, support and improve basic data collection efforts, and make them useful and
complicated. Over the years, several global observation and data compilation programmes have been

available for the users, including scientists, governments, civil society and the public at large. (See Box
4.) With regard to international efforts to harmonize satellite-based monitoring the Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) stands out as a prominent initiative.

Despite the considerable investment in monitoring at all levels and explosive progress in the technical
and information management aspects, data availability and quality is a persistent problem for IEAs.
This holds true for issues such as renewable energy, waste disposal and processing, land and coastal
degradation, water consumption or deforestation. The challenge for IEAs is that data are needed for a
wide range of environmental and socio-economic issues versus just a narrow issue; that data is often

needed for different spatial units; and, that the assessment requires time series. When limited to those
environmental indicators for which there are sound, regular, country statistics available, one arrives at
a small set of broad indicators, such as those contained in the Millennium Development Goals under
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/) MDG ; MDG_Arabic,
MDG_the Arab Region 2007: A Youth Lens, MDGs in the Arab Region 2007

BOX 4 Examples of data compilations and monitoring systems

National-regional data sources

? The Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), http://www.agedi.ae/
default.aspx

? Environmental Profile of Jordan 2006

? Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq, Environment in Iraq,

? Oman STATISTICAL YEAR BOOK 2006

? The GEO West Asia Data Portal: http://www.hafeet.uaeu.ac.ae/geoportal-2/

34 Monitoring, Data and Indicators