ABSTRACT
The recognition that human activities can create environmental problems on a global scale has created a need for new research on the causes and effects of these problems and on the development of solutions. The nature of these problems has implications for the types of data needed to support research. Given the global scope and complexity of many environmental problems, data resources should be enhanced in the following areas: global coverage, putting a greater emphasis on completeness and multinational sources; commodity and product flows rather than financial aggregates. The data requirements for any one of the items are daunting. Given the magnitude of these data problems, it is highly desirable to get started on establishing an infrastructure for providing data for research possible. In general, data requirements will be very demanding, because answers to the questions posed must be based on sound empirical evidence.
