The Importance of Open Data for Improving Air Quality
Blog by Chris Hagerbaumer, Executive Director, OpenAQ, August 28, 2023
OpenAQ is one of eight partners in the Clean Air Catalyst global partnership which is focused on building capacity for locally tailored solutions that curb air pollution, tackle climate change, and improve human health. Launched in 2020, it is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and led by World Resources Institute and Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. Other Catalyst partner organizations are Columbia Climate School Clean Air Toolbox for Cities, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Internews, MAP-AQ and Vital Strategies. The Catalyst has projects on the ground in Indore, India; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Nairobi, Kenya.
Example of the data made public by Mexico City.
More data are needed to make informed decisions about the many social, economic, and environmental challenges we face, including the fact that 99% of the world’s population is breathing unhealthy air. As Clean Air Catalyst develops and advances solutions toward cleaner air in Indore, Jakarta and Nairobi, data plays a key role. The local teams in these cities synthesize existing data with new data, analyze the data and integrate the findings with other scientific evidence and qualitative information to create a more complete understanding of who is being impacted by air pollution.
Whenever data are generated, there’s always a decision to be made: who should have access to these data? There’s now a strong, worldwide push for open data as the default practice for non-personal data by organizations like the Open Data Charter, Open Data Institute, Open Environmental Data Project, Open Government Partnership, and many others. But, what is open data and why is it so valuable?
Open data is data that’s freely available for anyone to access, use and share, without restrictions. Some of its key societal benefits include:
Improved decision-making: when data are open to the public, they can make better-informed decisions that are based on actual evidence instead of preconceived ideas.
Reproducibility and scientific advancement: Open data support scientific advancement, by allowing for confirmation of the results of past methods. Data on open platforms can serve as a way to check the reliability and credibility of replicated scientific research and encourage new discoveries through the sharing and transparency of data.
Innovation: when data are open, everyone – civil society, government, private sector academia – can apply themselves to solving key social challenges. Diversity of knowledge, skills and experience leads to more innovative and durable approaches.
Collaboration and knowledge sharing: working together using and sharing open data builds trust, encourages collaboration, and facilitates knowledge sharing across scientific boundaries.
Public oversight and accountability: when governments are transparent and open their data to the public, it allows for greater participation in and oversight of government affairs. With access to the data, citizens have a better idea of what officials and politicians are doing and are better able to hold them accountable, which leads to more effective and efficient government services.
Equity: access to open data empowers marginalized communities to access evidence about disparities and advocate for equitable approaches.
Efficiency: open data makes it easier for users to examine and put data to use rather than searching for and acquiring data.
How important is open data for air quality?
Open air quality data has supported hundreds, if not thousands, of scientific assessments that demonstrate air pollution’s impact on human health. Examples include global research products, such as estimates of air pollution-related risks presented in the annual Global Burden of Disease study, and local research products, such as numerous scientific papers facilitated by Mexico City making its data available and easy to download. Additionally, open air quality data informs air pollution forecasts such as NASA’s GEOS-CF system, which produces global, three-dimensional distributions of atmospheric composition.
Air Quality Monitoring Tool Being Unveiled in Jakarta in June 2023.
Open air quality data can also facilitate tools, including mobile apps, that inform people about air pollution levels. AirNow centralizes air quality data from Canada, Mexico and the United States (including from US embassies around the world), and created the Air Quality Index to guide public health alerts. Many air quality apps also provide practical tips for reducing personal exposure, such as avoiding outdoor exercise when pollution is high, avoiding heavy traffic, staying indoors and closing the windows, using air purifiers, ventilating cooking areas, wearing masks (N95 respirators being the best), and how to not contribute to the poor air quality, such as not smoking, driving, or burning trash or biomass (wood, etc.). The NAFAS air quality app is one example being used in Jakarta to help people protect themselves during bad air days.
Above all, open data spurs action. As one example, the United States has installed more than 50 air quality monitors at its embassies around the world, sharing the data openly and tweeting real-time reports on air quality, and a recent study found that in host countries where these monitors were installed, fine particulate concentration levels have fallen substantially, as a result of the action prompted by the data gathered. The first embassy monitor was installed at the U.S. embassy in Beijing and its pivotal role in spurring public awareness has been documented. Since 2008, air pollution in China has improved dramatically as a result of the numerous actions implemented by the Chinese government, including tightening emissions control standards and clean energy rapid transition. Coupling investments in comprehensive monitoring with data-driven action has enabled monitoring, evaluating and reporting on these changes.
Founded to fight air inequality, OpenAQ facilitates the types of data uses mentioned above. This non-profit organization aggregates data from hundreds of sources worldwide, harmonizing and sharing them for free in a centralized, open-source data platform.
OpenAQ Platform
After robust quality assurance and quality control processes, the Catalyst will provide the data it produces to the public through the OpenAQ Explorer platform as well as through partnerships with local governments and local stakeholders. The expectation is that this open data in the Catalyst cities will facilitate a plethora of uses -- from entrepreneurs creating apps, to researchers conducting analyses, to innovative people across all sectors developing solutions to air pollution.
For more on the power of open data, see the World Bank’s toolkit at Open Data in 60 Seconds.