Essential earth observation variables for high-level multi-scale indicators and policies

Anthony Lehmann,Paolo Mazzetti,Mattia Santoro,Stefano Nativi,Joan Masò,Ivette Serral,Daniel Spengler,Aidin Niamir,Pierre Lacroix,Mariapaola Ambrosone,Ian Mccallum,Nataliia Kussul,Petros Patias,Denisa Rodila,Nicolas Ray,Grégory Giuliani

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2021.12.024

Abstract

Several holistic approaches are based on the description of socio-ecological systems to address the sustainability challenge. Essential Variables (EVs) have the potential to support these approaches by describing the status of the Earth system through monitoring and modeling. The different classes of EVs can be organized along the environmental policy framework of Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses. The EV concept represents an opportunity to strengthen monitoring systems by providing observations to seize the fundamental dimensions of the Earth systemThe Group on Earth Observation (GEO) is a partnership of 113 nations and 134 participating organizations in 2021 that are dedicated to making Earth Observation (EO) data available globally to inform about the state of the environment and enable data-driven decision processes. GEO is building the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, a set of coordinated and independent EO, information and processing systems that interoperate to provide access to EO for users in the public and private sectors. The progresses made in the development of various classes of EVs are described with their main policy targets, Internet links and key referencesThe paper reviews the literature on EVs and describes the main contributions of the EU GEOEssential project to integrate EVs within the work plan of GEO in order to better address selected environmental policies and the SDGs. A new GEO-EVs community has been set to discuss about the current status of the EVs, exchange knowledge, experiences and assess the gaps to be solved in their communities of providers and users. A set of four traits characterizing an EV was put forward to describe the entire socio-ecological system of planet Earth: Essentiality, Evolvability, Unambiguity, and Feasibility. A workflow from the identification of EO data sources to the final visualization of SDG 15.3.1 indicators on land degradation is demonstrated, spanning through the use of different EVs, the definition of the knowledge base on this indicator, the implementation of the workflow in the VLab (a cloud-based processing infrastructure), the presentation of the outputs on a dedicated dashboard and the corresponding narrative through a story map.The concept of EV started in the climate sphere and spread to other domains of the earth system but less so in socio-economic activities. More work is therefore needed to converge on a common definition and criteria in order to complete the implementation of EVs in all GEO focus areas. EVs should screen the entire Earth's social-ecological system, providing a trusted and long-term foundation for interdisciplinary approaches such as ecological footprinting, planetary boundaries, disaster risk reduction, and nexus frameworks, as well as many other policy frameworks such as the SDGs

Highlights

Several holistic approaches have been developed to link the social and biophysical parts of socio-ecological systems in order to address the sustainability challenge (Lehmann et al, 2017)
First the State and Evolution of the Earth system can be described by its Atmosphere characterized by the Essential Climate Variables (Bojinski et al, 2014), its Hydrosphere characterized by the Essential Water Variables (Lawford, 2014) and Essential Ocean Variables (Milo slavich et al, 2018), its Biosphere characterized by the Essential Biodiversity Variables (Pereira et al, 2013), and its Geosphere charac terized by Essential Geodiversity Variables (Schrodt et al, 2019)
The objective of this paper is to review the literature on Essential Variable (EV) and to explore their integration in the framework of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) work plan (GEO, 2017, 2019) as well as their potential contributions for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other environmental policies

Summary

Introduction

First the State and Evolution of the Earth system can be described by its Atmosphere characterized by the Essential Climate Variables (Bojinski et al, 2014), its Hydrosphere characterized by the Essential Water Variables (Lawford, 2014) and Essential Ocean Variables (Milo slavich et al, 2018), its Biosphere characterized by the Essential Biodiversity Variables (Pereira et al, 2013), and its Geosphere charac terized by Essential Geodiversity Variables (Schrodt et al, 2019) The state of these variables will affect and modify their potential Ben efits and Impacts on the Socio-Economic System. The aim of sustainable development can clearly be defined as an attempt to secure the provision of benefits from the Earth system towards the socio-economic system, while minimizing the changes in drivers and pressure on the Earth system (Biggs et al, 2015)

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Conclusion