The Climate Knowledge Brokers Group (CKB Group) held an official Side Event at the COP20 in Lima yesterday, Innovation and Collaboration for Transforming Knowledge into Climate Action. The ubiquitous reporting services of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) attended and reported some initial impressions of the event.
Geoff Barnard, Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), introduced and moderated the event. Barnard explained that knowledge brokers are needed to help users find, filter, discuss and make sense of the overwhelming amount of climate information in existence. He said the Climate Knowledge Brokers (CKB) Group was addressing these needs by creating a “Climate Knowledge Grid,” which aims to understand user needs, point users to best available sources, and connect existing knowledge platforms.
Martin Hiller, REEEP, stressed the value of open access information to accelerate markets for green growth by helping to identify successful, sector-specific technologies and business models. He noted the CKB Group was coordinating its work on a Climate Knowledge Grid by connecting knowledge brokers, fostering communities of practice, and enabling funding. He also underscored the need for innovative tools such as weADAPT, a website that maps current adaptation projects against predicted climate change, and the newly-launched ‘Climate Tagger,’ a tool to help knowledge-driven organizations streamline, sort and connect their own information resources.
