Open Climate
The Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science was one of eight actions outlined by China’s President Xi Jinping to support global development during the 19th G20 Summit (2024). This initiative was jointly launched by China, Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, with the goal to promote the Global South’s access to global scientific and technological innovation achievements.
Open Science plays a crucial role in addressing climate change and its impacts on well-being by facilitating the sharing of knowledge, data, and research findings. By democratising access to knowledge, Open Science strengthens the global response to climate change and its implications for human well-being. However, addressing barriers like inequitable infrastructure and data governance frameworks remains critical for its full potential to be realised.
Climate Change Research
Open Science has advanced climate change research in several key ways:
Data Accessibility: Open data initiatives, such as the Creative Commons Open Climate Data Project, Copernicus Climate Change Service and NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), provide free access to climate data. This enables researchers worldwide to analyse trends, create models, and develop mitigation strategies.
Global Collaboration: Open Science platforms foster collaboration across borders, helping scientists share resources, tools, and findings to tackle climate change collectively.
Transparency: Open access to climate models and methodologies enhances credibility and encourages policymakers to make evidence-based decisions.
Challenges:
Inconsistent data-sharing practices across countries.
Limited access to computational tools in resource-constrained regions.
Concerns about misuse of data by parties with vested interests.
Impact on Well-being
Climate change has direct and indirect effects on human well-being, including physical health, mental health, and socioeconomic stability. Open Science addresses these through:
Equitable Access to Health Data: Open access to health-related research helps communities adapt to climate-induced health risks, such as heat stress, vector-borne diseases, and food insecurity.
Mental Health Research: Open sharing of studies on the psychological effects of climate change (e.g., eco-anxiety) helps design better support systems and interventions.
Policy Development: Governments and NGOs use Open Science resources to create evidence-based policies aimed at improving well-being under changing climatic conditions.
Challenges:
A lack of interdisciplinary integration between climate science and social science in Open Science frameworks.
Ethical concerns regarding the protection of vulnerable populations in climate-impact studies.
Key Initiatives Supporting Open Science (incl. Data) for Climate and Well-Being
- Advanced Carbon Mineralization Initiative (ACMI)
- African Group on Atmospheric Sciences (ANGA)
- African Open Science Platform (AOSP): Advances climate change research and well-being in resource-limited regions.
- African Scientists Directory (ASD)
- BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine)
- Carbon Containment Lab
- Climate Change Expert Profiles (ClimDev-Africa)
- Climate Change Laws of the World
- CODATA
- Copernicus Climate Change Service
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
- figshare
- Google Scholar
- INASP How the G20 could champion access to evidence: South Africa 2025
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)
- NASA’s Transform to Open Science (TOPS) Initiative
- National Centers for Environmental Information
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Climate Change and Health Initiative
- openAlex
- Open Climate Data Campaign (Creative Commons, SPARC, eIFL)
- Paris Agreement Adaptation Knowledge Portal: Facilitates knowledge-sharing to meet climate targets.
- PLOS
- Quest Science for Society Magazine
- re3data
- Research Data Aliance (RDA)
- ScienceOpen
- South African Journal of Science (SAJS)
- Space for Climate Observatory
- State of Global Air Report 2024
- TIME100 Climate List
- United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
- UNESCO Open Science Recommendations: Promotes global collaboration in addressing sustainable development goals (SDGs), including climate action (SDG 13) and good health and well-being (SDG 3).
- World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
- World Data System (WDS)
Future Prospects
Integration of AI and Big Data: Generative AI and machine learning can enhance the processing of open climate data, making predictions and adaptation strategies more robust.
Localised Solutions: Open Science allows the co-creation of knowledge with indigenous and local communities, ensuring solutions are context-specific.
Policy Alignment: Open Science can better align with climate justice initiatives, ensuring fair and inclusive access to knowledge.