Next September 16 and 17 the 2008 GMES Forum will be held in Lille. The GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) is a European program collecting and publishing information on the environment and safety. Numerous French teams are involved in the program. Typically, it is defined by and for users, whether they are just citizens, institutional establishments or businesses. GMES information clears the way for integrated environmental management and is critical for protecting people and property, specifically during an environmental crisis or one caused by human activity.
The first services are being gradually rolled out: they pertain to the marine environment, land management, the atmospheric environment and emergency disaster management. Later other areas will benefit from the program, specifically the management of the consequences of climate change, issues related to environmental impacts on health, or safety.
The two-day Forum in Lille will be presenting the first GMES services and will also be an opportunity for discussions with potential users. Some 700 participants are expected at the major event that is part of the many being organized by the French Presidency of the European Union.
