About UNEP Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP)

UNEP's Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) has been extensively reshaped to focus more specifically on the needs as defined by the national governments through regional consultations. The functions of the Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) including State of the Environment (SoE) Reporting, the Global Resource Information Database (GRID), UN system-wide Earthwatch Coordination, Environment and Natural Resource Information Networking (ENRIN) and Infoterra have been integrated into the programme.

In Asia and the Pacific Region, DEWA is implemented through the facility of UNEP Regional Resource Centre for Asia and Pacific (RRC.AP) situated within the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand. UNEP RRC.AP was initially established in 1989 as a GRID facility, which was later expanded, to encompass DEWA activities. There are three components in the programme: (i) Capacity Building and Servicing, (ii) Data Management, and (iii) Assessment and Reporting. Assessment reports and Early Warning Systems are being developed through these three components. At present, RRC.AP is focusing on four early warning issues based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee: GLOF, Water, Land Cover and Air.

Activities have been carried out under the direct supervision of the DEWA, in close coordination with UNEP's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP).