Mission

The objectives of INFO/RAC  are (As approved by the 16th Meeting of the Contracting Parties (Marrakech, 3-5 November 2009) to collect and to share information, to raise public awareness and participation and to enhance decision-making processes at the regional, national and local levels. As established by the Barcelona Convention the mission of INFO/RAC is to provide adequate information and communication services and infrastructure technologies on public participation of Barcelona Convention (Article 15) and on reporting (Article 26)  related to the issue for the protection of the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment, setting the obligations "to prevent, abate, combat and to the fullest extent possible eliminate pollution of the Mediterranean Sea Area" and "to protect and enhance the marine environment in that area so as to contribute towards its sustainable development".

From January 2010 the functions of INFO/RAC are in charge to the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research ISPRA.    

INFO/RAC scope of action and key issues are grouped as follows:

I.Information and communication technology

• Design and implement a common environmental and spatial data infrastructure and network services for information among Mediterranean coastal States as a support to the Contracting Parties in carrying out coordinated activities at the national and regional levels, for the full implementation of the Barcelona Convention, its Protocols and the Mediterranean Strategy on Sustainable Development (MSSD);
• Promote networking on Information and Communication technology:
• Provide technical assistance to Contracting Parties in on-line reporting activities.

1. Information sharing, communication, education, training and awareness-raising
   In close coordination with the Coordinating Unit and other MAP components, INFO/RAC will:

• Improve the environmental and spatial data flows management, information sharing and reporting mechanisms, through regional cooperation and appropriate training.;
• Improve the MAP corporate communication, promote education initiatives and participation and ownership of Contracting Parties;
• Establish long-term, working partnerships among MAP Components, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders;
• Promote public participation and raise awareness on the activities of UN Environment Programme/MAP, of the Barcelona Convention and of related programmes on the environmental and sustainable development policies of individual member states of the Convention.

III. Dissemination of results from environmental research and from innovative observation and monitoring technology

• Strengthen the knowledge base for bridging the gap between science, environmental monitoring and policy-making in the Mediterranean region, taking into account existing efforts at the Euro-Mediterranean level to focus on good practices relevant to the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and of the MSSD;
• Promote the sharing of experiences and results stemming from environmental research and innovative technologies, including those resulting from earth observation initiatives relevant to the Mediterranean environment and sustainable development such as the Group on Earth Observations and the Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security.

INFO/RAC will promote the use of the best ICTs available for reducing the overall ecological footprint of MAP components, helping to make the Barcelona Convention more environmentally friendly.