MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
type: Concept

UNEP/DEWA/GRID-EUROPE
type: Concept
in scheme: providers
definition: DEWA Europe/GRID-Geneva is part of UNEP's global network of environmental information centres, known as the Global Resource Information Database (GRID). GRID Geneva and Nairobi were the first centres to be launched in mid-1985. GRID aims to provide and facilitate access to environmental data and information for decision-making and policy setting, and to underpin UNEP's review of the state of the world's environment and provide early warning on emerging environmental threats. Since its foundation, the Geneva office received considerable support from Swiss and local authorities. This supporting was significantly reinforced, and GRID-Geneva's institutional base broadened, with the signing of a "Partnership Agreement" between UNEP, the Swiss Federal Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) and the University of Geneva in June 1998. Over the years, the European Union and many governments such as Denmark, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the USA have provided personnel and technical support. Commercial products and services have also been provided to GRID-Geneva by the ESRI Corporation, DEC, ERDAS, IBM and PCI, among others. Website: "http://www.grid.unep.ch/" [Summary provided by UNEP.]