Maritime industry turns to data for climate policy shift

Barbados is turning to data-driven innovation to better navigate the climate and trade challenges reshaping its maritime industry, as officials and experts met Thursday for a national workshop aimed at integrating artificial intelligence and evidence-based statistics into policy-making.

Officials have been pushing for more evidence-based data to guide climate and trade policies as the first two-day national workshop under the project “Evidence-based Climate Action through Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation for Caribbean SIDS” began at the UN House.

Senior statistician Janelle Scantlebury-Mounsey of the Barbados Statistical Service said the workshop highlighted the need for collaboration and high-quality data to support the realities of climate change in the fishing and maritime industries.

“Our region faces intensifying climate vulnerabilities, growing competition for marine resources, and new pressures on shipping and supply chains,” she said. “Increasing global interest in the Caribbean’s maritime space makes high-quality statistics more important than ever.”

Scantlebury-Mounsey stressed that assumptions cannot guide decisions. “The key areas where official statistics and maritime affairs intersect include the collection and analysis of data related to maritime trade, transport, and fisheries. While BSS already collects and produces data on trade, transport, fisheries, and tourism, new and emerging datasets must be leveraged to defend and represent our interests effectively.”

She highlighted the use of satellite data from the Automatic Identification System, which tracks vessel movements in real time. “Combined with traditional sources of data, this offers a new methodology for producing statistics on greenhouse gas emissions. Any new methodology must adhere to regional and international codes of practice to ensure quality, integrity, and relevance throughout the data lifecycle.”

Scantlebury-Mounsey reminded participants that good statistics are the backbone of effective climate policy: “They allow us to detect change, anticipate risks, quantify economic impacts, and guide strategic decision-making. Without reliable evidence, our climate action is weakened.”

She urged participants to commit to three principles: quality, ensuring data are reliable, timely, and internationally credible; collaboration, with seamless data flow between agencies; and sustainability, recognising that strengthening statistics is an ongoing investment for future generations.

“This workshop is a vital step towards building the evidence base needed for Barbados’ maritime policies, international negotiations, and climate resilience,” she added.

(LG)