2024 International Day for Universal Access to Information
Established by the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations in 2019, the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) promotes the importance of access to information as an essential element for a peaceful and inclusive society.
In particular, this day recognises the crucial role of information in achieving the 17 sustainable development goals for a better and more sustainable future for all, especially goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
In order to manage water resources as effectively as possible and deal with climate change in an efficient and sustainable way, it is vital to have reliable, relevant and long-term data. The colossal volume, velocity and variability of digital environmental data means that special technologies and analytical methods must be used, which OiEau has been developing and implementing since its creation.
Enhancing the value of knowledge
Once the data has been collected, OiEau makes the most of it by using it rationally and adopting the right practices and tools to meet the needs of its customers and partners.
This is particularly the case with the production of monitoring summaries and manuals, which are essential for supporting water stakeholders in all their activities, whether strategic, technical, legal, operational or institutional.
Realized by the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) and its partners, the French Solid Waste Partnership, the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), it aims to provide practical advice on managing and combating the transfer of waste and plastics into aquatic environments, based on examples of achievements in different territories and national or cross-border catchment areas around the world.
The International Office for Water draws up and distributes newsletters, on its own behalf or that of its partners, aimed at players in the water and environment sector. These newsletters enable them to follow regulatory and technological developments on a daily basis, while gathering information and data to enrich their monitoring.
For nearly 15 years, OiEau has led the documentary skills network, which brings together and federates documentalists in the fields of water and biodiversity around the ‘Water & Biodiversity’ partnership documentary portal.
Data as a decision-making tool
Faced with the multiple challenges of climate change, decision-makers have a major responsibility. They have to identify opportunities while taking into account the risks, and it can be complex to know what the best strategy to adopt at any given time is.
Drawing on its 30 years of expertise, OiEau helps its customers and partners to produce their own environmental digital data more effectively, along with that of others, and to make better use of it through resources tailored to target audiences: decision-makers, experts, citizens, etc.
Satellites in action with space hydrology
Faced with climate change and the increasing scarcity of water resources, OiEau is supporting the deployment of spatial hydrology for better water management, through various projects.
Watch a french video to find out more about spatial hydrology with Blaise DHONT, Project Manager at OiEau:
As part of World Water Week 2024, Blaise also presented a number of concrete examples of the use of this tool, as part of a session dedicated to satellite observation (from 41min41):
Did you know?
Organised by the Government of Ghana and UNESCO on 1 and 2 October 2024, the theme of the World Conference on Universal Access to Information 2024 is ‘Integrating Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector’.
Some examples of our projects:
