Effective responses to climate change in Asia and the Pacific are being held back by challenges in collecting and analyzing essential data, according to a new survey released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday.

The shortfall of data is obstructing policy development in a region considered as the most susceptible to the impacts of global warming.

The ADB survey revealed that several national statistical offices in the region lack sufficient personnel responsible for handling climate-related data.

The majority of respondents rated their access to geographically granular data as merely "fair" or worse for various categories, including critical information on climate change drivers like fossil fuel consumption and total greenhouse gas emissions.

The respondents also highlighted the unavailability of key data regarding impacts on ecosystem, infrastructure, specific geographic locations, and water security.

Asia and the Pacific contributes more than 50 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and bears the brunt of climate-related disasters and risks more than any other region.

The absence of high-quality data and the capacity to analyze it prevents policymakers in the region from working out effective, targeted measures to address both the causes and effects of climate change, as well as from evaluating their effectiveness.

“Asia and the Pacific is at the forefront of the climate battle,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. 

“The deadly heat waves and catastrophic floods we’ve seen in recent months show us what’s at stake. We need high-quality data and robust statistical capacity to avoid policy blind spots and make sure our strategies for tackling the climate crisis are well-informed. 

Park underlined the need to invest in statistical systems, people, and institutions, elaborating that the cost of not doing so will be far higher than the cost of these investments.

The ADB's survey, encompassing 29 national statistical offices in the region, is part of the "Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2024" report, which highlights the crucial role of data and statistics in response to climate change.

According to the report, accessible and accurate data will help facilitate localized monitoring of climate impacts, enabling policymakers to craft responses that are both data-driven and evidence-based.

Detailed geographical data aid in identifying priority areas, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to where they are needed most.

Apart from being challenged by limited capacity and insufficient access to climate data, national statistical offices experience a shortfall of uniform definitions and methodologies. 

Survey respondents identified several factors contributing to these shortcomings, such as insufficient technical staffing, restricted financial resources, methodological and technical difficulties, poor coordination with other stakeholders, and a general lack of prioritization for climate change data.

The report also includes a special supplement focusing on the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standard, which provides a comprehensive framework to streamline data-related activities, assisting countries in the region to develop and implement effective, data-driven, and evidence-based policies to combat climate change. 

Adopting the SDMX standard can enhance the collection, exchange, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data critical for addressing environmental challenges.

Committed to fostering a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, ADB continues its efforts to eliminate extreme poverty in the region. 

Established in 1966, ADB comprises 68 member countries, including 49 from the region.

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