As the impacts of climate change intensify, the need for accessible, reliable, and interoperable
climate data is more urgent than ever. Effective mitigation and adaptation strategies depend on
the open exchange of high-quality data across disciplines, sectors, and borders. This webinar will
explore how academia and research communities – particularly within G20 countries – can take a
leading role in advancing the Open Climate agenda.
This webinar aims to examine the current state of climate data sharing and interoperability across
research institutions in the G20, with particular attention to the Global South. It will explore how
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) are being integrated into climate data ecosystems and
discuss enabling policy frameworks and initiatives that support open climate data. The discussion
will identify opportunities for scientific communities to bridge policy and practice and take a
leadership role in open data governance. South Africa’s contributions and challenges will be
highlighted, particularly through the work of ASSAf, SAEON, and the National Climate Change
Information System (NCCIS). Finally, the webinar will explore how these efforts align with global
initiatives, such as the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group and the
Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science, launched by China, Brazil, South Africa,
and the African Union at the 2024 G20 Summit
