A comprehensive analysis of previous results on policy perspectives and the socio-economic benefits of GMES

Paper number

IAC-12,E3,3,8,x15166

Coauthor

Dr. Christina Giannopapa, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

Year

2012

Abstract

The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is considered as an important strategic programme for Europe and its citizens. It will support making informed decisions on trade-offs related to a wide range of concerns in order to better formulate, implement and assess European policies. These include the environment, climate change, agriculture, energy, fisheries, regional development, etc. The potential impact of GMES on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), common commercial policy, development aid and external relations is also of great significance. Important decisions are still to be taken for the future of GMES, which are essential for Europe’s genuine independence and for achieving public policy objectives. Currently, most discussions concerning this programme focus more on governance and financing. In these discussions the socioeconomic benefits impact of GMES play a great role for decision and policy makers.

There are numerous studies that have been conducted over the years analyzing the GMES Services and estimating socioeconomic benefits. These studies focus on costal monitoring, forest monitoring, food security, sea ice monitoring, ocean monitoring, humanitarian aid, atmosphere monitoring, urban atlas, land hazard monitoring, natural hazard monitoring, floods and fires, monitoring the North, and environmental pressure and state. Some of these studies characterise the benefits of GMES with respect to the strategic and political dimension, and to the economic and social dimension. However there is very little comprehensive analysis of such studies. 

This paper provides the necessary overview and provides a holistic comprehensive assessment of the various studies on the socioeconomic benefits of GMES. The study shows that GMES can produce significant socio-economic benefits and can offer significant strategic and political benefits for Europe. The strategic and political benefits for Europe are inherently economically non-quantifiable. These benefits concern European leadership in this high-profile area and the long term quality of life of the European citizens. The study provides information on the projected economic benefits by impact category in 2011 numbers and estimates that for every 1 euro of tax payer’s money invested in GMES, the citizen receive the equivalent of at least 10 euros public benefits back in a dynamic scenario where the interrelationship between impacted areas is taken into account.  It identifies the relevant policy issues in a number of areas and provides recommendations according to political, economic, social, technological and social factors.

Abstract document

IAC-12,E3,3,8,x15166.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,E3,3,8,x15166.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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