One of the key challenges faced in addressing global warming is to advance the understanding and communicate the science to inform scientists, policy makers and decision makers globally.

Check out the details of a new Microsoft MOU with the United Nations Environment Program. In short, under the MOU, Microsoft and UNEP will work together to leverage information and communication technology to help address complex environmental challenges, including climate change. Under the agreement access to scientific research in developing countries will be supported through the Research4Life program, which provides over 7,500 articles to scientists and researchers.

In addition, Microsoft Research’s Computational Science Laboratory in Cambridge, UK, will work with UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre to pioneer new computational modeling for biodiversity and conservation.

With this agreement, we can point out that the U.S. EPA, European Environment Agency, and UN Environment Programme are all using Microsoft technology to advance their mission of protecting the environment.

Also check out Eye On Earth for a project that blends geospatial data with environmental data with crowd sourced data.