Transparency Tools
Open information-sharing to promote accountability and more effective actions
These tools bring together data focused on issues of vulnerability, necessity, or controversy and display the information for comparison over time and/or across geographic areas. They are designed to provide a common base of information for policy-making and action. Not surprisingly, all of the tools in this section have “watch,” “transparency,” or “monitoring” in their titles. Some are external watchdogs, such as Global Forest Watch and AMTI, who use satellite data to track change over time. Others are partnerships with data providers to improve the international systems in which they operate. For example, Climate Watch publishes nations’ climate commitments under the Paris Agreement alongside other data sets for context, and Global Agricultural Geo-monitoring Initiative Crop Monitor (GEOGLAM) uses a combination of data from participating countries and satellite imagery to improve effectiveness of the agricultural commodities market.
| Tool Name | Climate Change | Conflict and State Instability | Natural Resource Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative | ✔ | ||
| Global Forest Watch | ✔ | ||
| Climate Watch | ✔ | ||
| Global Agricultural Geo-monitoring Initiative Crop Monitor | ✔ |
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)1
An interactive, objective, regularly-updated source for maps, analyses, and curated satellite imagery. The goal is to promote transparency in the Indo-Pacific in order to dissuade assertive behavior, prevent conflict, and generate opportunities for cooperation and confidence building.
Visit the tool here: amti.csis.org
Global Forest Watch
WRI 2
A global map of forest change data, such as global tree cover, pantropical carbon density, forest fires, boundaries for protected areas, and biodiversity hotspots. WRI utilizes a broad base of local partners, who submit narratives and consume the data.
Although Global Forest Watch could also be considered a research tool, WRI’s stated purpose is to promote transparency about governance of forest resources.
Visit the tool here: www.globalforestwatch.org
Climate Watch: Data for Climate Actions
WRI 3 and the NDC Partnership 4
A clearinghouse for dozens of datasets to compare Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, historical emissions data, emissions scenario pathways, and relevant sustainable development goals.
Visit the tool here: www.climatewatchdata.org
Global Agricultural Geo-monitoring Initiative Crop Monitor (GEOGLAM)
Group on Earth Observations at the World Meteorological Organization5
A crop monitoring tool that collects Earth observations from satellites and integrates them with ground-based and other in-situ measurements.
The goal is to improve market information and transparency in order to make international markets for agricultural commodities more effective.
Visit the tool here: cropmonitor.org
Citations
- A U.S.-based independent research organization funded by foundations, governments, and corporations.
- A U.S.-based independent environmental research organization funded by foundations, government, corporations, and NGOs.
- A U.S.-based independent environmental research organization funded by foundations, government, corporations, and NGOs.
- A global coalition of countries and international organizations devoted to advancing the NDCs and SDGs with a climate focus.
- A voluntary partnership of 100+ national governments and 100+ international organizations.