Self-conception of the sustainable data platform and basis of its use in the CO2COMPASS program
Our goals
The way we consume, move around and heat our homes, for example, causes 42 Gt of CO2 emissions per year. In our everyday lives, we suppress the fact that we are triggering a climate catastrophe by doing so, because we are only allowed to emit a total of about 305 Gt CO2 in order to avoid a critical overheating of the earth of more than 1.5°C (1,055 Gt for the 2°C target, Data 10/2020).
Phasing out fossil-nuclear energy supply by 2035
Many humans and living things are already affected by the symptoms. Dwindling biodiversity, increasing weather extremes and the first triggered tipping processes in the Earth system, such as the melting of ice sheets, are a global reality and now also threaten the previously less affected regions of the Earth.
In order to ensure a good life in an intact ecosystem for today’s mankind and future generations, the international community agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 °C if possible. In simple term, this means climate neutrality by around 2035.
We regard this target and the resulting benchmarks for individual states, municipalities, companies and individuals as binding and a priority for our actions. After half a century of inaction, CO2 emissions must now be reduced to zero at high speed. This must be done by changing lifestyles, eliminating unnecessary energy consumption, using more efficient technologies, and harnessing solar, wind, and water resources.
The framework is described by planetary boundaries and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. A special role is given to “societal tipping processes” for climate stabilization. These include, for example, youth engagement, ending fossil-nuclear investments, developing sustainable business models for decarbonization, and fact-based environmental education. The basis for fact-based decisions on the path to climate neutrality is valid data and methodologically sound feedback mechanisms.
This is where we come in.
sdp platform code
The platform participants have bindingly confirmed their acceptance of the code.
The aim of the sustainable data platform is to promote and visualize data-based sustainable action by means of valid, representative data and best available standards, to promote environmental and consumer protection and to develop high-quality services with the goal of 100% renewable energy supply without fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
Platform indicators are to be aligned with the SDGs and planetary-boundaries in a time-varying manner.
Participants will have access to platform modules and process data according to quality specifications and semantization rules and, while respecting data protection, put this data on the platform without selection or enable end users to do so (release by the user). Modules to support end users are provided by the participants free of charge.
The participants commit themselves to provide additional information necessary for the evaluation and to achieve the goals, respectively enable this for the end users. Valid sustainable data will be used independently and free of commercial interests and influences (e.g., no data trading). Participants nominate conflicts of interest.
The code is part of a compliance management system. Participants who violate the Code, e.g., by selling, manipulating, or misusing data, are excluded from participation and receive a contractual penalty.
Short description applicable to the Platform Code
Open platform that further develops proven efficiency and climate protection approaches to achieve the SDGs and the 1.5°C target on a personal, municipal and international level.
The sustainable data platform aims to accelerate climate action to the extent necessary by providing previously missing validated independent data for governance. The platform supports the Sustainable Development Goals by developing cost-effective measurement standards. It interlinks bottom-up and top-down approaches and identifies disturbance variables for effective climate protection.
The non-profit platform is a data warehouse with efficiency and climate protection modules (for-profit and non-profit). It is developed by data experts with a focus on sustainability, efficiency, measurement, IoT and AI. For the platform and esp. data security, the best possible quality assurance and protection against misuse is aimed at.
Participants (participation process) are given access to jointly developed modules and are empowered to develop sustainable business models (licensing agreements). The project development and control methodology ensures high usability and service quality for emission and cost minimization.
Organizationally, the platform is hosted by permanent structures whose bylaws comply with the platform code (under provisional management of Stiftung Energieeffizienz).
Binding acceptance of the code is a prerequisite for participation in the platform, in addition to factual and professional suitability. The basic financing of the platform, which is initially managed and created on a voluntary basis, is provided by donations and contributions from the for-profit participants. Preliminary work was started at the end of 2019, and coordination is currently taking place with international organizations in order to optimally support the SDGs.