Research Tools
Curations of various data sources for one-stop shopping or coherent stories
These tools are great for lightening the burden of finding information for journalists, scholars, policymakers, or interested members of the public. Some of these tools, such as the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, allow users to explore a novel data set provisioned from news, academic literature and other sources. Others, such as the Partnership for Resilience & Preparedness (PREP) tool, curate existing data sets relevant to a specific issue, making it easy for users to “shop” for the best data set for their needs.
| Tool Name | Climate Change | Conflict and State Instability | Natural Resource Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environment Conflict & Cooperation Factbook | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Carbon Brief Weather Attribution Map | ✔ | ||
| Carbon Brief Climate Funding Map | ✔ | ||
| Global Terrorism Database | ✔ | ||
| The Refugee Project | ✔ | ||
| Uppsala Conflict Data Program | ✔ | ||
| World Bank Open Data | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ReliefWeb | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Humanitarian Data Exchange | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Resource Watch | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Partnership for Resilience & Preparedness | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Environment, Conflict, & Cooperation Factbook (ECC Factbook)
adelphi 1
An extensive collection of more than 120 detailed, unique factsheets accessible through both a map and a searchable table.
The goal is for users to better understand the drivers behind environmental conflict and cooperation and to harness the lessons learned from earlier (non-) interventions.
Visit the tool here: factbook.ecc-platform.org
Mapped: Attributing extreme weather to climate change
Carbon Brief2
A geographic display of locations where peer-reviewed studies attribute extreme weather events to climate change.
Visit the tool here: www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-how-climate-change-affects-extreme-weather-around-the-world
Mapped: Where multilateral climate funds spend their money
Carbon Brief 3
A map profiling more than 1,000 projects funded from 2009-2017 by the four main multilateral climate funds.
The map includes: the Green Climate Fund (GCF); Adaptation Fund; Climate Investment Funds (CIF); and Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Visit the tool here: www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-where-multilateral-climate-funds-spend-their-money
Global Terrorism Database (GTD)
START: The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism 4
An open-source, searchable database that catalogs information on terrorist events from 1970-2016 (with annual updates). The GTD includes data on 170,000 cases of domestic and international terrorism with up to 120 variables.
The primary purpose is to support research and analysis on terrorism.
Visit the tool here: www.start.umd.edu/gtd
The Refugee Project
An interactive map that allows viewers to explore the last 50 years of refugee migrations, from both the perspectives of country of origin and destination. UN data complemented by 100 contextual narrative stories, which detail events triggering each major exodus.
Visit the tool here: www.therefugeeproject.org
Uppsala Conflict Data Program
Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University 7
A conflict database of organized violence and civil war dating back to 1975. The user can visualize, filter, and download the data, which is updated annually.
Visit the tool here: ucdp.uu.se
World Bank Open Data
The World Bank 8
A curated collection of longitudinal data and profiles of countries, for visualization and download.
The data covers a range of topics, including demographics, environment, economy, states and markets, and global links.
Visit the tool here: data.worldbank.org
ReliefWeb
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 9
The tool curates humanitarian information on global crises and disasters from more than 4,000 vetted sources. It is updated 24/7.
ReliefWeb Labs experiments with ways to improve information-sharing, including mobile apps, APIs, and shared taxonomies.
Visit the tool here: reliefweb.int
Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX)
UNOCHA 10
An open source platform with two types of data on humanitarian crises and response.
The first type is approximately 130 curated indicators that are comparable across countries. The second type of data includes more than 6,000 data sets contributed by vetted organizations.
Visit the tool here: data.humdata.org
Resource Watch
World Resources Institute (WRI) 11
A platform to explore accurate, up-to-date insights about the planet.
Users can create and share visualizations or dashboards using data from satellites, sensors, and social media to tell stories about the state of our planet.
Visit the tool here: resourcewatch.org
Partnership for Resilience & Preparedness (PREP)
A map-based, open, online data platform that allows users to access and visualize spatial data on past and future climate, as well as physical and socioeconomic data.
The tool is built on the Resource Watch platform and allows organizations to customize dashboards to align local efforts.
Visit the tool here: www.prepdata.org
Citations
- A Berlin-based independent research firm focused on environment and development funded by the German government and diverse clients.
- A U.K.-based news site focused on energy policy and climate science funded by foundations.
- A U.K.-based news site focused on energy policy and climate science funded by foundations.
- A research Center of Excellence at the University of Maryland, funded by the U.S. government.
- An NYC-based social impact design studio that collaborates with philanthropies, government agencies, and social enterprises.
- A Nigerian-American artist, professor, and fellow at the Kennedy Center.
- A public university in Sweden.
- An international financial institution with 189 member countries.
- A UN office that mobilizes and coordinates humanitarian assistance.
- A UN office that mobilizes and coordinates humanitarian assistance.
- A U.S.-based independent environmental research organization funded by foundations, government, corporations, and NGOs.
- An international research organization funded by foundations, governments, and universities.
- A U.S.-based independent environmental research organization funded by foundations, government, corporations, and NGOs.