The Abu Dhabi Global Environment Data Initiative (AGEDI) is a collaborative response initiated by the UAE government to answer the important need to bridge the ever widening environmental data/information gap between developed and developing countries.
It will improve the provision of high quality and comprehensive environmental data for decision making at the local, regional and global levels. It will also enhance cooperation and coordination between decision-makers, planners, and policymakers.
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi(EAD) was designated the lead agency, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the development and implementation of the Initiative.
AGEDI – Abu Dhabi will serve as a developmental test bed and ultimately as the basic model for implementation within other Emirates, the nation and then eventually the region.
The implementation of AGEDI-Abu Dhabi focuses on better integrating the science, management and policy functions with EAD as well as the Emirate. This integration will be displayed through the State of the Environment Assessment framework. The scientific knowledge required to develop the framework in combination with the report identifying pressing environmental issues provides one mean of bridging scientific and research and management needs.
Institutional strengthening is a major component of the AGEDI-Abu Dhabi implementation. Opportunities for capacity building and mechanisms for ensuring better quality control and efficiency of business practices are addressed several times in the AGEDI-Abu Dhabi components and output products.