The Use of Remote Sensing to Support the Application of Environmental Treaties

Abstract

There is a growing realization of the increasingly varied and interesting possibilities for the use of earth observation data to ensure compliance with international obligations generally, and treaty obligations in particular. Most efforts at examining the application of earth observation data to monitoring states’ compliance with international obligations focus on the environmental sector. This paper is contemplating the use of remote sensing satellites for the support of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) especially land monitoring MEAs such as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971) [1]; the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) [2] the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (1994) [3] and also the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) [4] and the Kyoto Protocol (1997) [5]. INTRODUCTION In the last thirty years the rapid growth in the number of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) has been an encouraging sign of international commitment to protect the environment. The proliferation of treaties has resulted in an increasing need for spatial data on the Earth’s biophysical systems. Although the existing satellites were not designed to meet the information requirements of environmental treaties, they can be used to generate key information necessary for developing and implementing international environmental treaties. MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS Recently, MEAs have proliferated as environmental protection has become a major issue worldwide. The 1992 Rio Conference, and the 1972 Stockholm Conference before it, reflected the rise of concern for the global environment and each was a catalyst for the creation of new accords. MEAs currently address a wide range of environmental phenomena, both regional and global in nature [6]. 1 54th International Astronautical Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, the International Academy of Astronautics, and the International Institute of Space Law 29 September 3 October 2003, Bremen, Germany IAC-03-IISL.1.17 Copyright © 2003 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved. The proliferation of MEAs has resulted in an attendant need for spatial data on the health of the Earth. This information contributes to the design of improved policy instruments [7]. MEAS AND REMOTE SENSING Earth Observation systems are tools, developed in recent decades, which have become essential for effectively conducting different types of environmental management and environmental research applications. However, although over 200 MEAs addressing a broad range of environmental issues and concerns have come into existence during the last few decades, but few explicitly incorporate or depend on data and information from space-based technology [7]. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships [8] is one of the only MEA explicitly referring to remote sensing in his articles as potential support in marine oil pollution monitoring. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, state representatives adopted the Johannesburg Declaration, which identifies future environmental and development goals. The Johannesburg Declaration’s supporting Plan of Implementation has identified earth observation as a crucial information source for a number of relevant disciplines to sustainable development. Earth observation is specifically mentioned as a key decision-making tool for better management of water resources, natural disasters monitoring, climate and desertification monitoring etc. Despite the fact that Earth Observation systems are capable of assisting the MEA process, there are number of significant problems. These include lack of consistency and standardisation of data sets and fragmented and inadequate data archives. Remote Sensing technology may provide significant new types of data, as well as simply more or better quality data, but linking Remote Sensing data to policy is not straightforward. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics highlighted that remotely sensed data can be used for various aspects of MEAs [9]. The application of Earth Observation systems to support MEAs can range from the identification of an new environmental problem (pre-negotiation phase) to the monitoring (negotiation phase) and assessment (implementation phase) of that problem, to the verification of compliance and subsequent enforcement (compliance and dispute resolution). However it is important to note that there is no binding international regime specifically addressing verification through remote sensing even though the concept of