Lawmakers have discussed the opportunities of creating new infrastructure to facilitate data sharing on climate change with the private sector and other parts of the government.
There is evidence of coordination across different agencies but it is not good enough to meet the needs of those who need it who are outside of the loop.
A report has recommended the creation of a “national climate information system”. This will be conducted with federal leadership, data and quality assurance guidelines.
The Democrats put forward a similar recommendation last Summer to establish a central portal of climate risk information. Republicans were unhappy about creating new federal infrastructure however.
It is not intended to be just further bureaucracy however and will be invaluable for its intended users.
A variety of federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic centers and personal sector institutions can provide climate-related information. That variety may however also create confusion about which data is acceptable in any given situation.
It is currently very confusing for people to get the information from so many different sources. It’s therefore important that there is coordination across federal agencies so everyone receives the identical information.
It should serve as a point of contact to direct people to the information they need.
Microsoft and the ODI have also been working to create open, trustworthy data sharing and collaboration. Together they have conducted research into climate change to spot priority areas for increased access via data through data collaborations.
They are working with experts to analyse the data ecosystem. They aim to review how data is shared and used. Also existing collaborations and the challenges and opportunities that increasing access to data in these areas could lead on to.
A sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is important in addressing climate change.
Governments around the world are looking at various measures to ensure transformation to a net-zero emissions economy.
The plan is to bring together datasets on the economy, society and work, population and health, agriculture, transport and tourism, and energy. This should bring significant benefits to the investment and policy decisions needed for recovery.
Improving energy efficiency for buildings which account for a third of all global energy emissions is obviously a huge task. Data sharing on climate change with regards to data on building characteristics and energy could result in significant improvements in their energy consumption.
Improving water resource management
The world’s water supplies are increasingly in danger from climate change. This makes collaboration regarding the management of water as a shared resource even more imperative. Collaborative approaches will ensure that water is available for both people and the world’s ecosystems.
Reducing the climate impact of urban transportation
Cities around the world are trying to develop solutions to transition towards more climate-friendly transport systems. Data sharing models could accelerate the progress of cities towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals.
Reducing waste
11 billion metric tonnes of solid waste generated per year creates pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Ensuring that high-quality data is available will help to reduce waste and corresponding emissions.