Energy, Data, and Decision-Making: a Scoping Review-the 3D Commission

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Science
• Health Economics

Background:

• Energy access is a key social determinant of health and a global development goal.
• Climate mitigation policies can impact health and economic equity, but data gaps hinder effective decision-making, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Big data offers potential solutions to address these evidence gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the existing literature on the intersection of energy, big data, health, and decision-making.
• To identify key themes, data limitations, and potential applications of big data in this field.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of literature was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Included English language articles published up to April 1, 2020.
• Data were extracted and analyzed descriptively and qualitatively.

Main Results:

• Thirty-nine articles were included, discussing health and economic effects of energy use and innovations.
• Key themes included the energy-economy link, the role of inequality, and significant data gaps in LMICs.
• Challenges with data limitations and examples of big data applications were identified.

Conclusions:

• Decision-makers face challenges in balancing energy efficiency and emission reduction with equity.
• Understanding socioeconomic inequalities is vital for maximizing energy gains and technology adoption, especially in data-scarce LMICs.
• Big data approaches show promise for improving data granularity and addressing evidence gaps in resource-limited settings.