Using citizen science data to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals: a bottom-up analysis

Abstract

Official data are not sufficient for monitoring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): they do not reach remote locations or marginalized populations and can be manipulated by governments. Citizen science data (CSD), defined as data that citizens voluntarily gather by employing a wide range of technologies and methodologies, could help to tackle these problems and ultimately improve SDG monitoring. However, the link between CSD and the SDGs is still understudied. This article aims to develop an empirical understanding of the CSD-SDG link by focusing on the perspective of projects which employ CSD. Specifically, the article presents primary and secondary qualitative data collected on 30 of these projects and an explorative comparative case study analysis. It finds that projects which use CSD recognize that the SDGs can provide a valuable framework and legitimacy, as well as attract funding, visibility, and partnerships. But, at the same time, the article reveals that these projects also encounter several barriers with respect to the SDGs: a widespread lack of knowledge of the goals, combined with frustration and political resistance towards the UN, may deter these projects from contributing their data to the SDG monitoring apparatus.

Can Citizen Science in the Humanities and Social Sciences Deliver on the Sustainability Goals?

“…In a case study evaluation of 30 CS projects, Ballerini and Bergh [11] find that the projects do have concrete local impacts in terms of sustainability, such as educating and engaging communities and influencing local policy-making. As such, they could provide much-needed local and contextual data for the SDGs.…”

“…However, the sustainability is mostly discussed for CS in general, and thus looks predominantly at technical and scientific phenomena [9]. Studies that frame CS explicitly in the context of the SDGs have also been observed in recent years [10], [11], [2]. Yet, a specific focus on CSS and the SDGs is missing so far.…”

Wybrane zagadnienia z zakresu ochrony i zagrożeń środowiska

“…Ma to szczególne znaczenie w kontekście osiągania celów zrównoważonego rozwoju nakreślonych w obszarze edukacji (SDG, ang. sustainable development goals) -cel nr 4 [Ballerini 2021]. Powiązanie nauki obywatelskiej z SDG umożliwia: wspólne kierowanie projektami nauki obywatelskiej, motywowanie społeczności do udziału w inicjatywach, otrzymywanie wsparcia w realizacji projektów, a także zwiększenie zainteresowania finansowaniem inwestycji [Ballerini 2021].…”

Volunteers Recruitment, Retention, and Performance during the CSMON-LIFE (Citizen Science MONitoring) Project and 3 Years of Follow-Up

“…A study [21] issued by the EU commission highlighted that environmental Citizen Science projects already contribute to a diversity of SDGs, in particular to health and well-being (SDG 3), climate mitigation and adaptation (SDG 13), terrestrial nature conservation (SDG 15), and global partnership for sustainable development (SDG 17). Thus, Citizen Science Data are suggested as a useful resource for complementing SDG reporting [22].…”