Data Resources

The UNEP-WCMC works with scientists and policy makers worldwide to place biodiversity at the heart of environment and development decision-making to enable enlightened choices for people and the planet.

The World Environment Situation Room implements the Big Data Initiative. The project is global with overarching environmental policy relevance and impact. It includes geo-referenced, remote-sensing and earth observation information integrated with statistics and data on the environmental dimension of sustainable development.

Explore UNEP's vast repository of documents, publications and reports.

Search UNEP projects by thematic area, geographic location, donor , project status and more.

Strata is a web-based, easy-to-use data platform to support practitioners and policymakers to identify and track environmental and climate stresses potentially driving threats to peace and security. Strata allows analysts, policy makers and practitioners to access and use climate security data in their daily work, including to raise awareness of converging risks, to design and prioritise policy and programming responses, and to monitor and evaluate interventions. 

Its unique values include: i) It is the only data platform that allows users to customize data analytics and visualization to their specific context without prior technical or data skills or background; ii) It is built on near real-time geospatial data streams (continuously being updated) at a subnational and lower granularity; and iii) It relies heavily on co-design with national and local stakeholders to ensure it is fit for purpose

Strata has launched its pilot version focused on Somalia in February 2022. During the first half of 2022, it is expanded to the wider Horn of Africa region. Further, regional expansions are expected for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as West-Africa and the Sahel, while working towards a global version (2023).

The interactive Data Observatory, developed in Google Data Studio, tracks COVID-19 cases and deaths, impacts on GDP, trade, employment, manufacturing and air quality, as well as financial and social policy measures in the 20 countries

Read about hotspots of environmental change, emerging science topics, or discussions on contemporary environmental issues, and understand what is happening to our changing environment, the consequences of everyday choices, and what are the future directions for policy.

The Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer is a free and easy to use data platform. It provides accurate, up-to-date, high-resolution geospatial data depicting  the extent freshwater ecosystems change over time. By helping decision-makers understand dynamic ecosystem changes, the data presented on this open access platform is intended to drive action to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and enable countries to track progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.6.  Data can be visualized and downloaded at national, sub-national and basin levels. Data is available for the following: Permanent & Seasonal Surface Waters  | Reservoirs | Wetlands | Mangroves | Water Quality

The Checklist of CITES Species provides the official list of CITES-listed species (scientific names) and their associated scientific synonyms; common names in English, French and Spanish (where available)

Powered by Map X - The UN Biodiversity Lab provides spatial data through a free, cloud-based tool to support Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in reporting on their achievements and to inform their conservation decision making. National policymakers and planners will be able to upload and utilize existing national-level data in their analyses.