Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia Climate School, Columbia University
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Tech Leadership Standing Panel: Solving the Data Problem for the Climate Crisis Part 1
August 10, 2023 @ 01:00:00 pm - August 10, 2023 @ 02:30:00 pm
Eastern Time (ET)
The world urgently needs more and better data to solve the climate crisis. Global earth observation data is essential for understanding, modeling, and predicting the course of climate change, and better local data is essential to plan and implement programs for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. This two-part panel will discuss the state of both global and local data for climate action, current challenges, and new opportunities. It will explore data-related challenges that must be met if AI is to deliver on its potential as a tool to address the climate crisis and will contribute to NAPA’s grand challenge on making government AI ready. Both panels will be moderated by Theresa Pardo, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University at Albany, State University of New York and Joel Gurin, President and Founder, Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE). We will have the honor of hearing from Robert S. Chen, Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia Climate School, Columbia University, Priya L. Donti, Co-founder and Executive Director, Climate Change AI, Jed Sundwall, Executive Director, Radiant Earth, and Cecile S. Rousseaux, Research Scientist, NASA.
Part 1: Data for Global Climate Knowledge Satellite data has been the cornerstone for observing, modeling, and predicting the course of climate change throughout the globe. This panel will discuss the state of earth observation data, the limits of current knowledge, and strategies for improving our knowledge and models. In addition to reviewing the state of well-established earth observation programs in the U.S. and Europe, the panel will discuss innovative programs from government, academia, NGOs, and the private sector, the potential for satellite observation at a granular local level, and the potential to supplement satellite data with on-the-ground or in-the-sea observations.
You can register for Part 1 using the button below. If you would like to register for Part 2, please scroll down to the bottom of this invitation.
Resources from the Chat
The Panelists
Robert S. Chen
Priya L. Donti
Co-founder and Executive Director, Climate Change AI
Jed Sundwall
Executive Director, Radiant Earth
Cecile S. Rousseaux
Research Scientist, NASA
The Moderators
Theresa Pardo
Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University at Albany, State University of New York
Joel Gurin
President and Founder, Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE)
Learn More about Part 2
Solving the Data Problem for the Climate Crisis Part 2:
Solving the Local Data Problem for Climate Action
Thursday, September 14th, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (ET)
Government officials, community leaders, NGOs, business leaders, and scientists often don’t have the accurate, usable local data they need for climate action. Many countries, provinces, and cities lack reliable data on healthcare, transportation, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, or other systems needed for adaptation and resilience planning. This panel will explore multidisciplinary approaches to solving this problem, including the use of official statistics and government data and other, newer sources. Panelists will explore the potential for new forms of collaboration between national statistics offices (NSOs), national ministries (eg meteorological or environmental), and the private sector; data collection by NGOs; community science data programs; meteorological and other sensors; AI-enabled analysis of non-official data and data sources; improved granular data from satellite observations; and other strategies for collecting, publishing, and using both global and local data for climate action.
Panelists include:
- Jorge González-Cruz, Professor, Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, University at Albany
- Linet Kwamboka, Senior Program Manager, Data4Now
- Ann Marie Chischilly, Executive Director, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals.