Foundations for effective climate data programs

I am delighted to announce the launch of Data For India's Climate vertical, with our first piece, on temperature trends in India, linked in the comments. At Data For India, three of the things we are committed to are: - the use of raw public data (and preferably not opaque reports or models built on top of that data), - starting with the absolute foundational stuff, even if it seems obvious, and - explaining how things are defined, caluclated, measured. This piece rests on all three of these pillars. Using IMD data, my colleague Juhi Chatterjee plots long-term historical and current-day data on temperatures in India to show precisely what has been happening with warming in India. This is foundational - even basic - work, but it doesn't exist in the public sphere, and is essential to do and say more. It's also work that we hope will be useful for others to build on as well. I hear a lot from the data-using community that they'd like more data on climate, but you've got to start right from the bottom, and we've now made that start. Everything else builds up from these basics. On measurement, the piece explains precisely which baseline is being used to capture deviations from the "norm", how it is calculated, and how the choice of baseline affects findings on warming. In fact, you can interact with the charts to see how temperature deviations change depending on the choice of baseline. This is Piece #1 of our climate vertical, but using these same principles, we look forward to sharing work on temperature and precipitation, emissions, the energy transition, agriculture and food security in this vertical. Do read, share and let us know what you think. We'd be happy to hear from others in the climate/ climate data-using space if they find this useful.

Did you know that weak measurement and verification systems can undermine the credibility of entire sustainability and climate programs? Recent analysis by Senken of more than 2,300 carbon projects found that in some categories, fewer than 16% of issued carbon credits corresponded to real emission reductions, highlighting the risks of inadequate monitoring and verification systems. At the same time, global climate finance and carbon markets depend on rigorous Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) processes; because one verified carbon credit represents one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or removed, a unit that governments, investors, and institutions rely on to track real progress. These numbers reinforce a simple but critical lesson: credibility in sustainability is built on systems, not promises. In practice, this means investing in robust monitoring frameworks, conducting independent compliance audits, and ensuring that data can withstand scrutiny from regulators, financiers, and stakeholders. Organizations that prioritize these systems are not only better prepared for evolving disclosure requirements, they are also better positioned to attract investment, manage risk, and deliver measurable impact. As sustainability expectations continue to rise globally, the institutions that will lead are those that understand that accountability is not an administrative requirement; it is a strategic asset. Because in sustainability and climate action, what gets measured, verified, and audited is what ultimately builds trust and delivers lasting results.

If you work in climate change, water resources, or land suitability, and you are not strong in #geospatial science, you are already behind. That may sound direct. But it is true. #Flood modeling. #Groundwater assessment. #Drought monitoring. #Agricultural suitability under #climate projections. None of this is possible today without serious GIS, remote sensing, and spatial programming skills. After years of working in hydrology and climate impact studies, I have seen one pattern: #Students jump to advanced tools. They skip foundations. They never build a structured pathway. So here is a roadmap I recommend to my own research students. 10 Free Geospatial Courses. Structured. Practical. Research-focused. PHASE 1: FOUNDATIONS You cannot model climate impacts without understanding spatial thinking. 1. GIS Foundations https://lnkd.in/dkS9K_tq 2. A Gentle Introduction to GIS https://lnkd.in/dy6cuRPj 3. Geospatial Analysis (Free Web Book) By Michael Goodchild and colleagues https://lnkd.in/dAiAusjw If you skip this phase, your research will remain technical rather than scientific. PHASE 2: PROGRAMMING AND AUTOMATION Climate datasets are massive. Manual workflows will fail you. 4. Python Foundation for Spatial Analysis https://lnkd.in/dUusJwjK 5. Open Source Spatial Analytics in R https://lnkd.in/dX_qA7gC 6. End to End Google Earth Engine https://lnkd.in/dYMWvNvj If you work on CMIP6, drought indices, LULC change, or evapotranspiration, automation is not optional. PHASE 3: EARTH OBSERVATION Satellite data is now central to climate and water science. 7. Land in Focus, Basics of Remote Sensing https://lnkd.in/dKpQHpFk 8. Synthetic Aperture Radar Foundations https://lnkd.in/drBSnijY If you understand SAR, you can monitor floods, soil moisture, and land deformation in all weather conditions. PHASE 4: STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS 9. Geospatial Intelligence and the Geospatial Revolution https://lnkd.in/dfNFfRYd 10. Spatial Data Management with Google Earth Engine (By Qiusheng Wu) https://lnkd.in/d9qydK4A This is where spatial data supports real decisions in agriculture, climate adaptation, and water planning. If you are: • A PhD student working on climate impacts • A consultant in water resources • An early-career researcher entering Earth system science • A supervisor guiding MSc students Build your capacity deliberately. Which phase are you currently in? Comment below. I would like to see how strong our climate and water community really is. Save this. Share it with your team. #ClimateChange #WaterResources #GIS #RemoteSensing #Hydrology #QGIS #GoogleEarthEngine #LandSuitability #EarthObservation #PhD #Research #FreeEducation #PCCA #UNFCCC #GeoSpatial #MSc

The ISO Ecosystem For Climate Action - Stronger Together. ISO standards for climate action are often viewed in isolation. But in reality, they form a connected system. A system that connects measurement, action, and disclosure into one coherent approach. --- 🔷 THE FOUNDATION: START WITH A SYSTEM At the core sits ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) This is not a climate standard per se — it’s the operating system. It embeds: • Governance • Continuous improvement • Integration into decision-making Without this foundation, climate efforts remain fragmented. --- 🔷 THREE CORE FUNCTIONS OF CLIMATE MANAGEMENT Once the system is in place, climate action breaks down into three pillars: --- 1️⃣ MEASURE → You can’t manage what you don’t measure ISO 14064 (Greenhouse Gas Management) enables: • Emissions quantification • Structured inventories • Verified, credible data Covers: • Organizational emissions • Project-level reductions • Validation & verification 👉 Turns ambition into data you can trust --- 2️⃣ REDUCE → From insight to action ISO 14006 (Ecodesign) focuses on: • Embedding sustainability into design • Reducing lifecycle impacts early 👉 Moves climate from reporting → real change --- 3️⃣ DISCLOSE / ADAPT → Climate = resilience ISO 14090 (Adaptation to Climate Change) enables: • Risk & opportunity assessment • Climate-resilient strategy 👉 Climate is not just emissions It’s business survival and adaptation --- 🔷 THE ENABLERS: WHAT MAKES THE SYSTEM WORK Supporting standards add depth and precision: • ISO 14040/44 (LCA) → Full value chain impact • ISO 14083 → Product carbon footprints • ISO 14068 → Carbon neutrality claims • ISO 14091 → Climate vulnerability 👉 They don’t replace the system — they strengthen it --- 🔷 WHY THIS SYSTEM MATTERS Together, these standards help organizations: ✔ Strengthen resilience ✔ Reduce emissions structurally ✔ Build credibility & trust ✔ Create long-term value --- 🔄 THE BIGGER PICTURE Climate action is not one standard. It’s a connected architecture: • ISO 14001 → system • ISO 14064 → measurement • ISO 14006 → reduction • ISO 14090 → resilience • Others → depth & rigor --- If you’re only using one piece, you’re not using the system. And in climate, the system is where the real value is. --- #ClimateAction #Sustainability #ESG #ISOStandards #NetZero #ClimateStrategy #Decarbonization #SustainableBusiness #GHG #CarbonManagement #ClimateRisk #Resilience #LCA #CarbonNeutral #CorporateSustainability

🔎 Navigating the Complexity of the Net Zero Transition A new report from CETEx (Centre for Economic Transition Expertise) at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) provides a practical, structured approach to policymaking for the net zero transition. 🌍 Key Insights from the Report: 🔺 A Modular ‘Building Block’ Framework Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the report introduces a flexible, modular framework that helps policymakers design, implement, and evaluate policies effectively. It emphasizes foundations, adjusting policies, and evaluation & anticipation—ensuring policy sequencing, coherence, and adaptability. 🔺 Coordination is the Key to Success Transition-related policies cut across multiple government agencies, financial institutions, and sectors. The report highlights the need for better institutional coordination, structured stakeholder engagement, and alignment across fiscal, industrial, and monetary policies. 🔺 Data & Policy Effectiveness A core challenge in net zero policy implementation is measuring effectiveness. The report calls for a comprehensive data strategy—integrating financial, environmental, and economic data—to track progress and make evidence-based policy adjustments. 🔺 Anticipating Unintended Consequences Effective transition policies must be proactive in identifying potential economic and social trade-offs—ensuring financial stability, protecting vulnerable communities, and maintaining public trust. The report stresses adaptive governance and continuous monitoring & evaluation to refine policies over time. 🔺 From Policy Ambition to Action With increasing scrutiny over net zero commitments, policymakers must balance ambition with realism. The report underscores the importance of a structured, iterative policy approach that can be updated and fine-tuned as the transition unfolds. #NetZero #PolicyMaking #ClimateFinance #SustainableTransition #GreenEconomy #FinancialPolicy #CETEx #LSE

Data governance matters just as much as the decisions you make from the data. Most programs prioritize collection. GPS Sensors are deployed, subscription platforms are licensed, and dashboards are built. Governance is added later—if at all. And that sequencing is where the problems start: unclear ownership, inconsistent standards, weak continuity when staff changes, and limited confidence or unclear expectations in what the system is actually capable of producing. The easiest way to think about it is as a layered system, with an order of operations that matter. Athlete well-being and data ownership are the foundation. Privacy, consent, ownership clarity, and trust are not features you add to a governance model. They are the conditions that make everything above them legitimate. If that layer is weak, nothing built on top of it is on solid ground. Infrastructure comes next — secure storage, access controls, retention policies, integration architecture. This is where most programs are most underdeveloped. Data living in vendor platforms with open access is not infrastructure. It is exposure. Governance defines the written standards: ownership, permissible use, and decision thresholds. Operations puts those standards into daily practice — who collects, who interprets, who communicates, and what quality checks apply at each stage. Continuous Improvement closes the loop, using feedback and retained learning to keep the system getting better over time rather than resetting with every staff change. Good sport science is not just about collecting more information. It is about building a system that preserves context, supports objective decisions, and still makes sense a year from now — regardless of who is on staff.

Climate Action Roadmap 🌎 Climate change continues to pose significant challenges, intensifying year by year. The urgency for businesses to accelerate their efforts in addressing environmental impacts has never been more critical. Enhanced focus on robust climate action can mitigate risks and leverage opportunities for growth and innovation. The initial step in any effective climate strategy involves conducting a thorough inventory analysis. By compiling a comprehensive inventory of all carbon emissions, businesses gain essential insights necessary for informed decision-making. This data-centric approach ensures that every subsequent action is grounded in reality and tailored to specific needs. Potential assessment forms the next phase, evaluating opportunities for carbon reduction across all operations. This stage is crucial for identifying feasible measures that can be implemented to reduce the carbon footprint effectively, highlighting the importance of setting practical and achievable goals. Science-based target setting is paramount to ensure meaningful decarbonization efforts. Establishing clear, measurable objectives aligned with global standards allows businesses to stay on track and make quantifiable progress towards sustainability commitments. Strategic alignment integrates climate objectives with the overall business strategy, bridging the gap between environmental goals and business growth. This integration not only addresses the risks associated with climate change but also uncovers valuable opportunities for innovation within the market. Effective implementation and regular monitoring of these strategies are essential to ensure they not only exist on paper but also bring about real change. Monitoring progress against set targets using a structured carbon management system provides the necessary feedback to refine strategies and adapt actions based on evolving conditions and scientific guidance. Ultimately, the continuous improvement of these strategies, informed by regular feedback and adapting to new scientific findings, underscores the dynamic nature of climate action. This approach not only fosters resilience and adaptability in business operations but also contributes significantly to the broader goal of sustainable development. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #sdgs #strategy

You can't improve what you haven't measured. "Creating a baseline is critical." This was number two on my list of 40 learnings in the field of #enterprise IT and promoting a #GreenOps culture. Without being too dramatic, it's just as important as it sounds! TLDR - Don't assume you know your footprint without the detailed numbers to back it up. Let's take a pause and think about this, would you ever start a race without knowing exactly where the starting line is? I bet your answer is no. The same logic applies to a sustainability journey in IT. If you don't know our starting point, how can you track progress or even know which direction to head? How can you justify funding, building a business case for sustainable IT? Creating a baseline is more than just a box-ticking exercise. It's a strategic move that sets the foundation for green initiatives. It's about knowing where you stand today in terms of your carbon emissions, so you can make well-informed decisions about how to proceed, it's a pivotal component of a GreenOps strategy. Having a clear baseline will highlight the gaps and weaknesses in your emissions data - trust me, there will be a lot and you'll discover more as you learn about what to ask your vendors. This not only gives you a clear picture of your current state but also helps build an effective data improvement program. This isn't something you should do in isolation; it's about building collaborative relationships with your supply chain to ensure the quality of the data you're working with improves over time. So, my message today is simple - before you hit the ground running, make sure you know where you're starting from. Set a clear, measurable baseline, and remember, quality data isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a key foundation stone of GreenOps #Sustainability #GreenOps #MeasureToManage #DigitalSustainability

📢New Article 🌍 As COP29 unfolds in Baku, we get reminded that tackling today's planetary challenges will require a bold, collaborative approach rooted in #openscience. ➡️ At the heart of this effort are two foundational pillars: Data Commons and Data Stewardship. Together, they operationalize the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and unlock the full potential of data to drive innovation and solutions. 🔑 Data Commons enable shared access to data, breaking silos and fostering global collaboration. They ensure that resources like climate data or generative AI training sets are equitably accessible, empowering diverse stakeholders to tackle our biggest challenges together. 🛡️ Data Stewardship ensures that data is made accessible for re-use responsibly, building trust and sustainability. Stewards play a vital role in safeguarding data integrity, enhancing transparency, and ensuring long-term usability and sustainability. 🤔 These twin pillars are critical to foster a more equitable, inclusive, and impactful data ecosystem that can accelerate progress toward addressing today's global polycrisis. 💻Read: https://lnkd.in/eXxnqSnK ✍️ With co-author Jean-Claude Burgelman 💻 See also: The need for climate data stewardship: 10 tensions and reflections regarding climate data governance: https://lnkd.in/eve6-X6N #COP29 #OpenScience #DataCommons #DataStewardship #FAIRprinciples #ClimateAction #Sustainability #AIforGood #Polycrisis

One common mistake and challenge associated with corporate carbon footprint measurement is the critical decision of how to set up your organizational structure? Establishing an organizational structure for carbon management is crucial—not just for compliance, but as the foundation for effective climate action. Here’s a breakdown of key best practices to keep your company on the right path: 1️⃣ Define Boundaries Thoughtfully   The first step in carbon management is choosing the right boundary approach (operational, financial, or equity) as outlined by the GHG Protocol. Most companies use Operational Control for simplicity and effectiveness, aligning emissions data directly with decision-making processes. 2️⃣ Prioritize Accountability and Insight   A well-designed structure supports: - Accountability: Assign responsibility for emissions to specific teams. - Data-Driven Decision-Making: Analyze emissions by business unit, facility, or region to identify hotspots. - Goal Setting: Establish baselines and KPIs, setting clear targets across levels. 3️⃣ Start Simple, Scale Gradually   Begin by reviewing your current org chart. Group emissions by practical categories (e.g., facilities, business units). As your data grows, refine the structure for greater granularity, which brings improved visibility without overwhelming your team. 4️⃣ Tailor for Practicality  Focus on physical locations that generate emissions—factories, warehouses, etc. Customizing your approach by industry (e.g., retail, manufacturing) ensures efficiency and clarity. Getting this right now will create a robust foundation for sustainable operations, ensuring your team is empowered to measure, manage, and reduce emissions effectively.