Presentation from a workshop in Galway, March 2016. Showing the history of linkage between environmental decision making and information systems, and the opportunities and challenges that this creates. Also the problem in terms of public access and use of information

1. Muki Haklay, UCL
Algorithmic governance in
environmental information (or how
technophilia shape environmental
democracy)
CoCoRHaS

2. Outline
• Environmental Democracy & Scientific
Information linkage
• Environmental technophilia – brief history
• Results and implications for participation in
decision making
• Opportunities and barriers over the years

3. NASA 24/12/1968

4. NASA 24/12/1968
1962 – Silent
Spring
1970 – USA
Earth Day
1972 –
Stockholm
Conference
1987 – Montreal
protocol,
Our Common
Future
1992 - Rio
Conference,
Agenda 21
1997 – Kyoto
Protocol
1998 – Aarhus
convention
2001 –
Johannesburg
Rio + 10
2003 – Aarhus
EU directives
2005 – UK
Environmental
information
regulations
2011– Eye on
Earth
2012 – Rio+20
2015 – Eye on
Earth Summit II
2015 – COP21
Paris

5. Stockholm Declaration 1972
1972 Stockholm declaration, Principles 19 & 20 –
differentiating between experts and the public:
“It is also essential that mass media of
communications … disseminates information of
an educational nature on the need to protect
and improve the environment”
“In this connection, the free flow of up-to-
date scientific information and transfer of
experience must be supported and assisted,
to facilitate the solution of environmental
problems”

6. • 1972 – INFOTERRA – Mainframe based directory of
environmental expertise, used by national nodes
• 1982 – Global Resources Information Database – GRID – a
global Geographical Information System with information
about the environment
1970s: Information Systems

7. 1985: GRID & connectivity
...GRID technology allows us ... initially to
describe, but eventually to understand, and
ultimately to predict and manage... GRID is also
providing practical introduction to GIS
technology for application in the national level
... data transmission rates were very low, and
for cost-effective telecommunication between
GRID nodes, direct satellite links will clearly
have to be established ... UNEP looks forward to
the day when GRID data and technology will be
routinely and easily available to the entire
world community to help sharpen the process of
environmental assessment and guide the forces of
environmental management

8. 1992 – Agenda 21
Chapter 40: INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING
…In sustainable development, everyone is
a user and provider of information
considered in the broad sense. That
includes data, information, appropriately
packaged experience and knowledge. The
need for information arises at all levels,
from that of senior decision makers at
the national and international levels to the grass-
roots and individual levels.
…Countries and international organizations should
make use of new techniques of data collection,
including satellite-based remote sensing.
…National and international data and information
centres should set up continuous and accurate data-
collection systems and make use of geographic
information systems, expert systems, models and a
variety of other techniques for the assessment and
analysis of data.

9. 2012 – The Future We Want
…We recognize that improved participation of civil
society depends upon, inter alia, strengthening
access to information and building civil society
capacity and an enabling environment. We recognize
that information and communications technology is
facilitating the flow of information between
governments and the public. In this regard, it is
essential to work towards improved access to
information and communications technology,
especially broadband networks and services, and
bridge the digital divide…
…We further resolve to improve access to
information, technical knowledge and know-how,
including through new information and communications
technologies that empower farmers, fisherfolk and
foresters to choose among diverse methods of
achieving sustainable agricultural production

10. Environmental technophilia
• Environmental problems are identified through scientific
research and/or monitoring of environmental conditions
• Environmental information, and by extension information and
communication technologies are perceived as natural ally for
facing environmental challenge
• Persistent excitement from the potentials of technology:
– 1970s – Computers
– 1980s – Geographical Information Systems/Satellite Remote Sensing
– 1990s – Internet and the Web
– 2000s – Sensors and automated monitoring, mobile & ubiquitous
data collection
– 2010s – Big Data, Machine Learning (AI), Unmanned Autonomous
Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things

11. ‘Environmental issues are best handled with
participation of all concerned citizens, at the
relevant level. At the national level, each
individual shall have appropriate access to
information concerning the environment that is held
by public authorities, including information on
hazardous materials and activities in their
communities, and the opportunity to participate in
decision-making processes. States shall facilitate
and encourage public awareness and participation by
making information widely available. Effective
access to judicial and administrative proceedings,
including redress and remedy, shall be provided.’

12. Environmental Democracy assumptions
• Environmental issues are scientific, hence the
only arguments that are valid are scientific
ones, with robust evidence
• Access to information is pre-requisite to
participation
• Access to justice required to remedy lack in
information and participation
• However, in what form is the information
released?

13. 1997

15. http://www.naei.org.uk/emissions/postcode_2003.php
2008

17. 2013

18. 2016

19. 2016

20. Technical knowledge and information use
Type No. of participants Issue for GIS
Deep technical Significant skills, negotiation
& translation of knowledge
Shallow
technical
Skills, user / programmer,
control over the application
Use Knowledge of systems,
legitimacy of outputs, access
to data and software
Meaning Outputs, legitimacy of
interpretation, overcoming
‘technophobia’
Haklay, M. ,2013 ,Neogeography and the delusion of democratisation, Environment and
Planning A, 45(1):55-69

21. Changing opportunities & barriers
• 1970s – access to physical libraries, access to basic knowledge, ability
to interpret the results. Deposit of environmental information in
libraries, emergence of intermediaries.
• 1980s – access to information systems, use of Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing analysis software, cost
of hardware. Increase knowledge & access to low cost computing,
media.
• 1990s – Internet access beyond 64Kb modem, access to knowledge.
More ability for NGOs to run systems & websites.
• 2000s – access to sensor networks, academic literature, mapping
data. Growth in citizen science, open hardware
• 2010s – Big Data abilities, complex black box algorithms. Open
platforms for processing (GFW), Open Science