Across the Asia-Pacific region, countries, UN entities and other stakeholders are making efforts to integrate science and systematic approaches to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Linking evidence-based research with cutting-edge technological advancements, data and statistics, information technology, climate adaptation strategies, disaster risk resilience and data management can unlock powerful actions to achieve sustainable development for all, leaving no one behind. The increasing body of available Big Data – a complex web of structured, unstructured and semi-structured information – is underpinning these efforts. The sheer volume and variety of these datasets make them impossible to manage through traditional data management systems alone. Enter Artificial Intelligence – the key to unlocking the potential of big data. Machines are now capable of learning, reasoning and problem-solving at unprecedented speeds. AI-driven systems can process vast amounts of input data and generate meaningful outputs, supercharging the transformative potential of big data. In the realm of data collection, AI technologies such as web scraping and remote sensing play a crucial role in generating and gathering information. Statistical organizations have already begun to leverage AI to tap into new data sources, including social media data, to supplement official statistics. Through access to different, diverse data streams, the quality of official statistics is improving, leading to more timely, precise and reliable insights. In data analysis, AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing human experts to focus on strategic initiatives. AI can scan massive datasets, identify patterns, trends and even anomalies that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Predictive analytics allow policymakers to anticipate challenges before they arise. And with machine learning, automation and enhanced data visualization, it’s possible to process complex information faster and with greater accuracy than ever before. While AI has the potential to benefit all SDGs, looking at Goal 13, Climate Action, as an example, AI-supported analysis of big data can help countries estimate carbon stocks and carbon sequestration (the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide), map areas that are vulnerable to impacts from climate change and pinpoint expected changes in the services provided by ecosystems as a result of climate change (for example, reduced water supply). The Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management, an ESCAP Regional Institution, has put big data and visualization methods into practice in its monitoring of sand and dust storms through accessible maps. Figure 1 highlights the exposure to sand and dust storms combined with population density while figure 2 shows the exposure levels of agricultural land. This is invaluable information as policymakers grapple with the challenges of risk prevention and mitigation as well as emergency response.  Fig. 1: Exposure of population to sand and dust storms Fig. 2: Exposure of agricultural land to sand and dust storms There are promising initiatives underway for other SDGs as well. For example, for SDG5, Gender Equality, UN Women is looking at whether child marriage might be linked to environmental factors. By combining data from household surveys with satellite imagery showing local environmental factors at very small spatial units, it is possible to assess linkages through modelling. For SDG8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Indonesia is analysing patterns in anonymized positioning data from mobile phones to derive timely statistics on international tourism, just to mention a couple of examples.  To harness the full potential of big data and artificial intelligence, countries would need to foster the transfer and development of sustainable technologies, improve data governance, and enhance collection and analysis capabilities, while at the same time investing in statistical infrastructure and promoting capacity-building initiatives.    —   The use of AI and big data for sustainable development was the topic of a side event to the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development on 28 February. The event was organized by: Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT) Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)  Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM)  International Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), Chinese Academy of Sciences, China  National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Thailand  Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific