Brussels, 29/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - To make environmental information quickly and easily accessible within the framework of INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe), the European Commission is proposing to harmonise data with numerous expected benefits: arranging a cross border emergency rescue, preventing major environmental damage or comparing energy consumption of buildings in different countries. The proposed common standards in key policy areas such as energy, climate change, biodiversity, the marine environment, and human health have just been put out to public consultation.
“The INSPIRE standards will help us improve the environment. The more we have a common understanding in Europe of what we talk about, the better we can work together for the benefit of environment”, said Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik.
Interested parties are invited to submit their comments by 21 October on the relevance and appropriateness of the standards proposed for a wide range of data about natural risk zones, atmospheric conditions, meteorological geographical features, oceanographic geographical features, sea regions, habitats and biotopes, species distribution, and energy and mineral resources.
The consultation and on-going public examination of these common standards will make it possible to assess their usability across disciplines and nations. A conference on the contribution of INSPIRE to the EUROPE 2020 strategy is currently taking place in Edinburgh (27 June-1 July). http://www.ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations (A.N./transl.rt)