How Does the Data Divide Impact Global Policy Challenges?

The collection of high-quality data is of critical importance when tackling global issues like climate change, disaster response, and public health. But some groups have access to high-quality data about themselves and their communities and others don’t. Critical gaps in data hinder collaborative action on key global challenges. For example, countries vary in the quality and quantity of meteorological data collected, meaning climate risk prediction models for a given area may be inaccurate. High-quality climate data is also essential for disaster response and means early warning systems are less effective for the communities at greatest risk. Meanwhile, many countries are still years behind in adequate data collection for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, meaning some nations can make evidence-based decisions concerning national development while others lack information about their areas of greatest need.

Watch ITIF's Center for Data Innovation's panel discussion about the impact of the data divide on critical global policy challenges and the ways reducing these disparities might help drive global data-driven innovation and prosperity.

• Watch here, or on datainnovation.org