How data restrictions slow climate progress

Imagine running a business without access to key financial data. No revenue reports. No market trends. No balance sheet. Now imagine making high-stakes, long-term decisions - without access to climate data? That's exactly what's happening in the U.S. right now. 🚨 Climate data is vanishing from federal websites - silently and systematically 🚨 Air quality data is no longer being shared internationally - impeding global responses 🚨 Government agencies are erasing all references to climate change - undermining informed decision-making The impact? Climate risks become harder to assess and even harder to address. No data means no action. No action means more vulnerability (not just for businesses, but for real people like you and me!). Here's the reality: climate impacts continue regardless of politics. 🌪️ Extreme weather disrupts supply chains - no matter who's in office (natural disasters caused losses of US$ 320bn in 2024) 📈 Savvy investors still demand climate disclosure - the logic hasn't changed 📉 Employees and customers demand climate action - now more than ever (85% of consumers say climate change affects their daily lives and buying decisions) At AimHi Earth, we've immersed teams at Unilever, PepsiCo and 40 other organisations in learning experiences that enable them to better understand and identify climate risks, spot future-proofing opportunities and make better business decisions in a changing world. So, given what’s happening in the States, we are launching a "pay what you can" initiative for US-based SMBs and non-profits - those who need this information most. Because access to essential climate information should be hampered by politics.

Last week I wrote about my experiences using EU Traces - the platform supporting the now-postponed EU Deforestation Regulation. I wanted to see how we're doing on initiatives that came from the EU Green Deal, mostly for my own comfort, but also to see where we're falling behind. Five years into the European Green Deal, the Joint research centre (JRC)’s new progress review gives a mixed verdict. ✅ Emissions are falling. ✅ Circular economy is gaining ground. ⚠️ But here’s the striking part: 28% of targets can’t even be properly assessed because of missing data. Think about that: nearly a third of the EU’s most important climate and sustainability goals lack the basic monitoring to measure progress. It’s tempting to frame the Green Deal purely as a policy or political project. But if we don’t close the data gap, we’re flying blind. This is where technology and technologists should step up: 💡 Building scalable monitoring systems. 💡Unlocking trustworthy, verifiable data pipelines. 💡Making sense of fragmented information across borders and sectors. The policy framework exists. The ambition is there (we hope🤞). What’s missing is the data infrastructure to match. Mixed progress isn’t a sign to slow down.. it’s a clear call for the tech sector to move faster.

🌍It's not new news: The impact of blocking climate data in federal documents Recent reports about efforts to block the release of climate data from federal documents & websites are deeply concerning. Access to accurate, transparent, and comprehensive climate data is critical for informed decision-making—not just for governments, but for businesses, individuals, and global organisations alike. If this move goes ahead (or continues to), the ripple effects could be significant. I’ve stepped through my thoughts but mostly I'm keen to understand how others are remaining positive with these changes? 🏢 Impact on Businesses🏢 Businesses rely on federal climate data to assess risks, plan for the future, and align with sustainability goals. Without access to this information, companies may struggle to: 👎 Understand and mitigate climate-related risks to their operations and supply chains. 👎 Make informed investments in clean energy and sustainable practices. 👎 Meet regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations around environmental transparency. Industries like insurance, agriculture, energy, and real estate—which are heavily dependent on climate data for risk modeling and long-term planning—could be hit the hardest. 🙅♀️ Impact on Individuals🙅♀️ For individuals, the lack of accessible climate data could mean: 😞 Reduced ability to make informed decisions about where to live, work, or invest. 😞 Limited understanding of local climate risks, such as flooding, wildfires, or extreme weather events. 😞 Fewer opportunities to hold policymakers and corporations accountable for climate action. 🌎 Impact on Global Climate Organisations🌎 Global organisations like the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) rely on robust, reliable data to inform their analyses and recommendations. Blocking access to U.S. federal climate data could: 💡 Create gaps in global climate models, undermining their accuracy and usefulness. 💡 Hinder the ability to track progress toward international climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement. 💡 Limit the effectiveness of global efforts to address climate change, as data from the U.S. is a critical component of worldwide analysis. While global organisations may still publish their findings, the absence of U.S. federal data could weaken the credibility and comprehensiveness of their reports. This could lead to delays, increased uncertainty, and a lack of consensus on critical climate issues. It is sad because this is yet another barrier on what was already a difficult road. What positives can we take? How do we remain hopeful? #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Climatedata #Transparency #BusinessImpact #carbon Trace | Certified B Corp™