ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Countries in the Asia Pacific are considered slow in responding to climate change. The biggest obstacle faced is the lack of data needed by policy makers.
This is stated in the results of an ADB survey covering 29 national statistical agencies in Asia and the Pacific entitled Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2024: Data for Climate Action.
In the report, it was stated that a number of national statistical agencies in the region stated that they did not have adequate staff to handle climate data, while others stated that they did not have a special unit that handles climate data.
Meanwhile, most respondents said that their access to many types of granular geographic data was only at a ‘sufficient’ level, including data on drivers of climate change, such as fossil fuel use and total greenhouse gas emissions.
Important data on impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, special geographic areas and water security, is also still lacking. In fact, Asia and the Pacific contribute more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions, and experience the impact of disasters and other climate risks more heavily than other regions.
ADB assesses that without high-quality data and the ability to analyze that data, policymakers in the region cannot design effective and targeted measures to address the causes and impacts of climate change, and evaluate the effectiveness of these measures.
“We need high-quality data and strong statistical capacity to avoid policy blind spots and ensure that strategies to overcome the climate crisis are based on the right information,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park in an official statement, Thursday, August 22 2024.
For this reason, said Albert, investment is needed in statistical systems, human resources and institutions in the region.
“The costs of not doing these things will be much greater than the costs incurred for this investment,” he explained.
ADB assesses that having the right data will enable more local monitoring of the impacts of climate change, thereby providing the context for more effective, data-driven and evidence-based policy responses.
Granular geographic data can also help identify areas that need to be prioritized for policy, thereby ensuring that resources are channeled to the areas that need them most. ADB notes that various national statistical agencies face challenges not only in terms of limited capacity and lack of access to climate data, but also lack of uniformity in definitions and methodology.
Survey respondents said this condition was caused by a lack of technical staff, limited financial resources, methodological and technical difficulties, lack of coordination with other stakeholders, and not prioritizing climate change data. (AT Network)
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