The Information Underpinnings of the Sustainability Transition: Priorities, Gaps and Strategies
  • Seminar
  • UNU-IIST Seminar Room, Macao, China
  • 21 May 2009

Dr. Marc Levy

Deputy Director
Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)
Earth Institute, Columbia University
New York

United States

Marc Levy is Deputy Director of the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), part of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. He also serves as an adjunct professor in Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. He is a political scientist specializing in the human dimensions of global change. He is an expert on environment-security connections, environmental sustainability, emerging infectious diseases, the geography of poverty, and the effectiveness of international environmental institutions. His work has been supported by a large number of national and international agencies. He serves as Lead Project Scientist of the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center; and directs the Earth Institute's Cross-Cutting Initiative on Environment-Security Linkages. He has served on a number of global environmental assessments and frequently advises national governments and international organizations on global change issues. Before coming to CIESIN in 1998 Mr. Levy had teaching appointments at Princeton University and Williams College.

Navigating the transition toward sustainable development requires making a number of changes in business as usual practices. A number of these changes have attracted a great deal of attention, such reductions in pollution fluxes, reductions in resource consumption, changes in land use practices, and shifts in the distribution of political power. A less well-appreciated, but equally important, element of the sustainability transition concerns information. I will characterize the information needs of the sustainability transition, drawing insights from recent experiences with sustainability indicators, scenario analysis, risk assessment, and early warning. I will then identify priority information needs for the sustainability transition, assess information gaps, and outline a strategy aimed at creating an information infrastructure to address core needs.