United Nations Second Expert Meeting 'Towards A Big Data Revolution for the Planet"

Big Data and technology are essential and can help us understand the state of the world environment and the production of science-based tools for decision-making by governments, investors, industries and consumers, among others. Earth observation systems and AI tools now enable data from multiple sources to improve transparency and accountability, and to help identify solutions and collaborations to achieve environmental goals across disciplines and sectors. AI and frontier technologies offer new solutions, however they also come with complex issues and challenges that need to be understood and  regulated.

The aim of this Second Expert Meeting "Towards A Big Data Revolution for the Planet", organised by the Data for the Environment Alliance (DEAL) and the United Nations Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment (UNSPBF) is to join together experts and enable them to scope integrated, tech empowered cross-sectoral approaches to data governance to meet multilateral environmental goals. The attendance is by invitation only, the event will be highly interactive, preceded and followed by an online survey that will allow the participants of the Expert Group to share their views ahead of the meeting.

Some of the pressing matters which will be discussed include topics such as: how big data can help achieve the SDGs, what are the best practices and challenges of big data projects, how to integrate and share data across sectors and disciplines, how to ensure data quality and compliance with ESG standards, what are the technological human needs and opportunities for big data, how to ensure technology equity, justice and equality, how to enhance transparency and accountability with big data and so forth.

Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group Leader and Senior Researcher Ian McCallum will be taking part in the event on behalf of IIASA's Director General Albert van Jaarsveld.