The Data for the Environment Alliance, a Member State-led Alliance facilitated by the United Nations Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment (UNSPBF), organized a high-level Expert Meeting themed, “Towards the Big Data Revolution for the Planet,” between 11th – 13th September 2023, taking place at the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria. KEPSA is represented by Faith Ngige - KEPSA, Climate Business Information Network- Kenya Coordinator.

Recognizing the importance of better data governance and access, the UN Environment Assembly issued a Ministerial Declaration in 2019 that called for the development of a Data Strategy for the Environment.  Big Data on the environment is essential to enhance understanding of the state of the world environment and the production of science-based tools for decision-making by governments, investors, industries and consumers, among others.

In her opening remarks, the Chief Executive Secretary of the UN Science Business Policy Forum, Ms Shereen Zorba highlighted the critical role of data in driving sustainability and that high quality, accessible and timely data from all the sectors is key for decision-makers in all levels of governance for enhancing environmental sustainability. 

The team of experts comprises earth observation centres/space agencies, research centers and labs, think tanks and data analytics centers, big tech and industry partners, investment partners, member states, forecasting specialists from industry and finance, UN entities, Eurostat’s and research institutions’, and citizen science representatives. The group's work supports the UNEA Ministerial Declaration of 2019, which calls for the design of a global environmental data strategy by 2025.