3 ways to increase trust in the data we need to address climate change
Digest #63
All eyes are on Dubai this week as the United Nation’s annual climate conference draws tens of thousands of government officials, civil society leaders, academics, advocates, and policy-makers to negotiations on the climate crisis. It’s a forum in which data features primarily as a background to other, more visible targets, and where data—particularly at a country level—are too often missing or not openly available. COP28 is taking place as declining trust in institutions globally coincides with an era in which data and tech hold more power and potential than ever to accelerate progress toward addressing climate change. This is why we need trustworthy data governance practices now more than ever. Without them, the rapid pace and massive scale of technological change risks causing harm even as innovative solutions hold potential to address the climate crisis.
The data for development community has long espoused belief in harnessing the power of data and technology to drive progress toward a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world. But in order to live up to these promises, we must work together for a fair data future, one that supports people in how they are represented in data and includes those who have long been left out altogether. Fully distilled, the original promise of the data revolution to accelerate progress toward environmental and other development goals can only be realized within a culture of trust.
Why trust is a core component in successful data governance
Trust is the foundation for—and can be the result of—good data governance, data sharing, and data use. Trust is the basis of all effective relationships, and this is no less true when it comes to the use of data and technology. A high-trust ecosystem provides the conditions in which good data governance, efficient data sharing, and responsible and impactful data use flourish.
Trust serves as the foundation and the mortar of good data governance systems, underpinning the successful implementation and broad acceptance of these systems and bridging the needs and interests of diverse constituencies. People need assurance that their data will be handled responsibly, ethically, and securely. This is especially important in our broader culture of data misuse and faulty protections by private entities and governments alike. A robust data governance framework that prioritizes transparency, enforceable accountability, and explicit data protection fosters this trust. Public trust in data governance not only ensures compliance with regulations but also encourages participation in data collection efforts, thereby enhancing the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the data. Ultimately, this trust forms the basis for the effective use of data by organizations and governments alike to address societal challenges and support sustainable development efforts.
Trust is also required to “create the conditions to create.” The use of digital technology has exploded and innovation in this field continues to grow. So as we face new issues with data, particularly with the advent of frontier AI, and other new technology, building trust is essential.
How to build trust in data and digital tools
How do we build the trust needed to realize the Data Revolution? Here are three means to foster trust in organizations that produce, collect, and govern data:
Embrace institutionalized transparency and accountability, including credible and enforceable data governance systems and policies.
In an era where information is a source of power, open and transparent governance of data is crucial to foster public confidence and trust. We can reinforce this trust by having clear and credible mechanisms for holding entities accountable for their actions and decisions, ensuring they are answerable for any misuse or breaches of data. Establishing strong transparency and accountability not only mitigates risks but also encourages user engagement and confidence, laying the foundation for sustainable relationships and positive societal impact.
Embed inclusive, participatory processes that give people the ability to effect change.
People deserve a say in data design and collection that impacts them. Despite considerable progress over the years, whole groups of people are not being counted and their exclusion prevents a fair and equitable approach to data-informed decision making. Ultimately, active participation not only enhances the quality and relevance of the data collected, but also ensures that it’s put to use responding to people’s direct needs.
For instance, in our Data on Youth and Tobacco in Africa project, Development Gateway is working on filling the data gaps on adolescent tobacco use, and particularly focusing on groups that have not been counted in the past, like out-of-school youth and girls.
Demonstrate genuine value from data.
IREX CEO Kristin Lord rightfully points out that “the surest path to trust is for institutions to do their jobs well and provide real value to citizens.” There is still a lot of work to be done here when it comes to ensuring projects are designed with the people most affected in mind, and even more so in establishing a clear linkage between data and impacts that improve lives. Establishing clear causal pathways and impact metrics, and ensuring that projects are held accountable to the impact they promise, remains an important area of growth. When our projects rely on public participation to ensure that tools and solutions are designed for people’s needs, we owe these collaborators proof of delivery if we want them to trust us as partners in the future.
The United Nations' 2023 Hangzhou Declaration communicated a renewed commitment, revitalized energy, and accelerated action to ensure that high-quality, timely, open, and inclusive data are the heart of realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As we participate in or observe the happenings in Dubai this week, let’s assess our data governance practices and recall that data needs to serve everyone and getting it right can empower us to use information to solve society’s problems, rather than create new ones. By building a stronger culture of trust and cooperation, we can uphold the promise of the data revolution and transform our world for the better.
A version of this post was originally published here.
Image: A man collect water quality data in a wetland. Photo credit: I. Noyan Yilmaz on Shutterstock