Switzerland, the UN and the University of Geneva renew partnership Centre GRID, Geneva

Bern (ots)

The Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and
Landscape (SAEFL), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the University of Geneva are continuing to support the
GRID-Geneva centre (Global Resource Information Database). The three
partners signed an agreement on Friday which will renew their support
for a period of four years. GRID's activities include the early
detection of threats to the environment and the creation of
environmental databases.

Switzerland will pay, through SAEFL, an annual sum of CHF 350,000
over the period 2002-2005 to cover the activities of the GRID-Geneva
Centre. «The early detection of threats is an important factor in
protecting the environment» said SAEFL Director Philippe Roch. The
support it gives to GRID-Geneva is also a sign of its desire to
strengthen Geneva's green credentials, which were established with
the International Environment House and the Geneva Environment
Network (GEN).

The objective of the GRID-Geneva centre is to provide and
facilitate access to high-quality environmental information and data.
It employs a staff of 26 and is managed by UNEP. The international
organization is GRID's main funder. According to UNEP Executive
Director Klaus Toepfer, «GRID-Geneva provides UNEP with essential
support in the areas of evaluation, communication and networking with
organizations and programmes concerned with environmental
monitoring».

An example of collaboration

University of Geneva Rector Maurice Bourquin said he was happy to
sign the renewal of the cooperation agreement and went on, «This
collaboration consolidates the University's teaching and research
work in environmental sciences and sustainable development». The
University of Geneva is seconding two researchers to GRID on a
permanent basis.

According to Philippe Roch, «GRID-Geneva is a very good example of
collaboration between the Swiss government, the Cantons and
international organizations». GRID-Geneva was set up by UNEP in 1985,
with the support of the Canton of Geneva. The agreement signed on
Friday is a continuation of the collaboration between the Swiss
government, the University and GRID which began in 1998.

Contact:

Philippe Roch, Director of the Swiss Agency for the
Environment, Forests and Landscape, tel.
+41 (0) 79 277 51 88
Ron Witt, coordinator of the GRID-Geneva centre,
tel. +41 (0) 22 917 82 94/5
Walter Wildi, University of Geneva, tel. +41 (0) 79 310 00 39

Internet
GRID-Geneva website: http://www.grid.unep.ch
UNEP website: http://www.unep.ch
University of Geneva website: http://www.unige.ch
Catalogue of Swiss environmental data sources:
http://www.ch-cds.ch
SAEFL website:
http://www.environnement-suisse.ch/buwal/eng/index.html

Attachment
Fact sheet »Early detection from Geneva

UNEP UNITED NATIONS
ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA

SAEFL SWISS AGENCY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,
FORESTS AND LANDSCAPE
Press office

Switzerland, the UN and the University of Geneva renew partnership Centre GRID, Geneva

Bern

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