Thursday

28th Mar 2024

Stakeholder

High-quality data is essential component for decision-making in challenging world

  • Two services of European Union's Copernicus programme, implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission, not only provide quality-assured data but concrete insights to help with crucial decisions. (Photo: German presidency 2007)

There is no doubt that in Europe and across the world we are currently facing many unprecedented challenges, from the constantly shifting parameters of the Covid-19 pandemic to the warming climate.

Added to this pressure is a growing population alongside the very real possibility of an economic slump. It is undoubtedly a headache for decision-makers, let alone businesses and individual citizens.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

On the plus side, however, we have never had so much technology at our fingertips, giving access to a world of information.

But it is not enough to have a wealth of data – the wires need to be untangled for the story to make sense.

Well-informed choices are key to facing these challenges successfully and decisions backed up by data could be essential for our recovery and continued journey towards a greener, more economically resilient future.

In today's world, we are constantly bombarded with information, sometimes without even realising it. The progression into a digital world has more or less crept up on us, and from the 'Big Data' systems and super computers, the 'Internet of Things' to Earth observation data, we have never before had so much information.

But how do we make sense of it all and use this information to overcome the current challenges we face in society, from the Covid-19 pandemic to climate change?

How useful the information for decision-making is depends on its quality and how it is interpreted.

Two services of European Union's Copernicus programme, implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission, not only provide quality-assured data but concrete insights to help with crucial decisions.

Drawn from sensors across space, land, sea and air, the freely available data provided by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) serve policymakers, businesses and citizens alike.

This is made possible by the ECMWF's sophisticated data assimilation and modelling which, combined with its world-renowned meteorological expertise, provides much-needed insight to help environmental decision-making.

A prime example of this is how Copernicus has tailored the information it provides on atmospheric conditions around the world to help monitor the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its atmosphere monitoring component (CAMS) has provided vital information and visualisations, from maps to time series, alongside animations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM10) across 50 major European cities.

CAMS scientists have been working closely with medical research teams to investigate the role of air pollution in the pandemic and whether fine particulate matter can aggravate its spread as well as worsen symptoms in the same way it affects cardio-pulmonary health and immune response.

In the meantime, scientists from the climate change component of Copernicus (C3S) also worked with software experts to develop an application that offered health authorities and epidemiology centres the opportunity to explore whether temperature and humidity can influence the virus's spread.

Screenshot of Copernicus visualisations of NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 on 2nd October, displayed on the dedicated Covid-19 microsite. (Photo: ECMWF Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service)

However, the way such high-quality environmental data aids decision-making goes far beyond the pandemic, important as this is. Being able to project into the future is vital for many climate-dependent industry sectors that are likely to be affected by climate change so that they may mitigate or adapt to the risks.

From energy to agriculture, the insurance sector to tourism, many organisations use data provided by Copernicus to adjust to and plan for the likely impact of climate change on their sector.

In the renewable energy sector, for example, climate data helps with decisions on where to site new wind farms or estimate future supply and demand from a growing population.

An increase in provision of renewable energy is one important factor in the European Union's Green Deal, which pledges Europe to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050.

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to re-set and re-think and the best, most insightful data, used wisely, can help us plan for a better, more sustainable future for the generations to come.

Author bio

Carlo Buontempo is Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) at ECMWF. He completed a PhD in physics at University of L'Aquila in 2004 before moving to Canada for his post-doc and then joining the UK Met Office. Carlo worked at the Hadley Centre for Climate Science and Services for almost a decade where he led the climate adaptation team and the climate service development team. In this role he led numerous projects involving climate change adaptation and regional modeling in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. Before becoming Director of C3S, Buontempo developed the sectoral information system of C3S, helping businesses and policymakers in sectors like finance, insurance, energy, etc. with customised and up-to-date environmental data services.

Disclaimer

This article is sponsored by a third party. All opinions in this article reflect the views of the author and not of EUobserver.

Power-price volatility hit EU wind markets during Covid-19

A new report reveals that the oversupply of electricity in Europe as a result of the coronavirus crisis has triggered wholesale electricity prices to drop below zero, affecting particularly wind-heavy markets such as Germany, Denmark and Ireland.

Von der Leyen promises Green Deal will be 'true recovery'

The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wants to cut at least 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 - saying the Green Deal is a "cultural project" that goes beyond simply cutting emissions.

EU's new 2030 climate target slammed on 'accounting trick'

The EU's updated 2030 climate-target plan, due to be presented by the European Commission, have been criticised for including land and forest carbon sinks in its emissions-reduction goal. Green groups describe it as an "accounting trick".

Higher EU climate target 'economically feasible'

A new report indicates that the EU's plan to reduce the bloc's greenhouse emissions by 55 percent by 2030 is "technically and economically feasible" - with a reform of EU carbon market and "adequate safeguards" for low-income EU countries.

Opinion

Big data can save more lives, if used properly

Big data and evidence-based decision-making provide immense opportunities to improve health and well-being and prepare for the next crisis, if this force is applied for the good.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us