LocationsOpening Remarks by Ms Beate Trankmann at the Launch of the Data to Policy Navigator at the UN World Data Forum
April 24, 2023
UNDP China Resident Representative Beate Trankmann speaks at the 2023 UN Data Forum in Hangzhou, China
Distinguished guests,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of UNDP, I’m delighted to be here today in Hangzhou at the UN World Data Forum for this important event on data-informed policymaking.
Let me begin by extending a warm welcome to our esteemed guests joining us today – H.E. Alexei Buzu, Moldova’s Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Ilya Nickelt, Chief Data Scientist of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, my colleague Anthony Ngororano, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Kenya, and Professor Wang Xiaojun, Dean of School of Statistics at Renmin University of China.
As we gather here today, the world is faced with a plethora of monumental challenges that have derailed our collective progress towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and pushed both humanity, and the planet, to the brink.
First and foremost among them is the risk that, at the current rate, global warming levels will exceed the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, which will have devastating consequences on billions of people around the world.
However, a bleak future is not inevitable. The multitude of crises, or polycrisis, that currently confront us, must be a wake-up call for immediate and concerted global action. And in responding to it, we still have an opportunity to learn from our mistakes of the past, and chart a new, more sustainable course forward.
To accomplish this, leveraging data is critical. Through data-driven and data-informed decision-making, governments can develop more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive policies across all sectors.
To assist countries in unlocking the full potential of data, UNDP and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) have co-developed the Data to Policy Navigator to help policymakers integrate data into their policy-making process.
... a bleak future is not inevitable. The multitude of crises, or polycrisis, that currently confronts us, must be a wake-up call. In responding to it, we still have a window of opportunity to learn from our mistakes of the past, and chart a new, more sustainable course forward.Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China
This new tool, which we are launching today, includes a step-by-step guide, actionable recommendations, and a list of practical examples. It is aimed at mid- and senior-level government executives, regardless of the sector in which they work or their prior knowledge and experience with data.
UNDP is optimistic that the Data to Policy Navigator will serve as an important, go-to resource empowering public sector changemakers and trailblazers to take urgently needed action to advance the SDGs.
Let me close by once again expressing my appreciation to all the guests in attendance today, as well as our speakers and our partners from GIZ and BMZ. I very much look forward to learning from your perspectives and insights during the upcoming discussions.
Let us continue working together to leverage data for a more sustainable, green, and inclusive future.
Thank you!
