Many developing countries lack environmental data and information, or the information that is available may be unreliable.

“In Chile, we make decisions based on perceptions: we do not have reliable and updated information”

(RIDES, 2008)

Often basic data is not gathered, or the institutions and facilities with responsibility for data collection are unable to maintain their functions consistently on a long-term basis and at an appropriate geographic or demographic scale. This may be due to under-funding, and/or the lack of staff or skills. Even where environmental data is available, it is frequently presented in a form that cannot be used easily by decision-makers (e.g. it is expressed in overly technical jargon) and provided without interpretation in terms of development options and their consequences. As a result, decisions have been taken, and continue to be taken, in ignorance.

In other situations “the available data is not accessible – either as a matter of protocol (e.g. data collected under a paid consultancy) or, more frequently, as a result of lack of willingness to share and ‘turfism’” (CANARI 2008). Furthermore, having access to good data does not address the fundamental shortcomings of many policy and planning processes and does not guarantee good outcomes. In Trinidad, for example, “there are several examples of the government making disastrous decisions even after having access to information and data” (CANARI, 2008).

A report on a survey of stakeholder perspectives in Kenya notes that:

“Overall, respondents felt that sufficient data is collected in Kenya, but data and information is disorganised, not aggregated, and cannot be easily accessed by policy-makers or other practitioners. Tools are needed to reform the data collection and distribution process.”

(Sandford & Vijge, 2008)