GreenITStrategy.com

Late last week Microsoft signed a MOU with the European Environmental Agency (EEA) for 5 years to develop a portal of environmental information for over 500 million EU citizens.

“Reliable and timely information is vital for making informed personal and policy decisions relating to the fight against climate change and adverse environmental conditions. By improving the availability of information, the EEA aims to better enable policy-makers and citizens to make decisions about the environment and their impact on it. As well as enhancing the availability and presentation of data, the observatory will augment data collection, allowing citizens and non-governmental organisations to play a greater role in gathering environmental information from across the continent. It could also evolve to include real-time satellite information for emergency relief services, as well as for other environmental operations. Microsoft is providing development services to help the EEA extend the focus on important environmental factors that include air, ozone and water quality information.”

More info here: http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/pressreleases/EEAObservatoryPR_14052008.mspx