A Strategy for Open Data from the EU Could Aid in the Battle Against Global Warming
The European Union (EU) is taking significant strides to improve data access and sharing, with the aim of fostering innovation and competition. Known as the EU Data Act, this legislation seeks to make data generated by connected devices more accessible, particularly in the realm of sustainability solutions.
Recognising the urgent need for climate action, the EU is proposing to enhance the Data Act by integrating explicit environmental and sustainability objectives. This move would encourage data sharing for climate-related innovation and sustainability-focused applications.
One key aspect of this enhancement is the strengthening of corporate sustainability reporting through data. The EU is considering loosening corporate sustainability reporting rules, which could potentially reduce the enforceability of climate transition plans. Stronger open data rules could require companies to transparently share environmental data, supporting accountability and aiding innovation aimed at emissions reductions.
Another proposal is to mandate "access by design" with sustainability in mind. This would ensure that climate-relevant data types are readily accessible for research, innovation, and regulatory use.
The EU is also considering incentivizing open data sharing for climate solutions. By establishing incentives or frameworks, the EU could reward entities that share environmental data openly, thereby accelerating the development of sustainable technologies and climate risk management tools.
Looking to the UK and US as examples, both countries have implemented open data policies that have fostered sustainability innovations. The UK's Open Government Licence and Geospatial Data, for instance, provide free, unrestricted use of government data, including environmental, energy, and transport data. The US Open Data Policy mandates federal agencies to publish their data as open by default, with climate, energy, and environmental data prominently shared.
If the EU wants to drive sustainability solutions, creating supranational legislation that makes publicly held data harmonized and reusable by default is a vital next step. This would help guide the Union as it navigates climate change, sustainability legislation, and supranational solutions.
Access to sustainability data, including geospatial, earth observation, and mobility data, is more critical for Europe than ever before due to climate change. Data from satellites, airborne imagery, and geospatial data can provide critical environmental data for heat remediation efforts, precision agriculture, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In a time when EU member states like France, Portugal, and Greece are struggling with wildfires, and the UK has experienced its hottest days on record, the need for open data to drive sustainable innovation and tackle climate change is evident. By leveraging UK and US open data practices around environmental transparency, the EU can create more impactful open data policies that prioritize data-driven climate action alongside digital innovation.
- The EU's proposed enhancement of the Data Act includes integrating explicit environmental and sustainability objectives to encourage data sharing for climate-related innovation.
- The EU is considering loosening corporate sustainability reporting rules, which could lead to stronger open data rules requiring companies to transparently share environmental data.
- The integration of "access by design" in the Data Act would ensure climate-relevant data types are readily available for research, innovation, and regulatory use.
- The EU is proposing incentives for open data sharing for climate solutions, rewarding entities that share environmental data openly.
- Open data policies in countries like the UK and US have fostered sustainability innovations, with examples like the UK's Open Government Licence and Geospatial Data.
- To drive sustainability solutions, creating supranational legislation that makes publicly held data harmonized and reusable by default is a vital step for the EU.
- Access to sustainability data, including geospatial, earth observation, and mobility data, is increasingly critical for Europe in addressing climate change.
- The need for open data to drive sustainable innovation and tackle climate change is evident in light of recent extreme weather events such as wildfires in France, Portugal, and Greece, and record-breaking heat in the UK.
