What is the Climate Data Steering Committee (CDSC)? What is its relationship to the NZDPU?

The Climate Data Steering Committee was established by French President Emmanuel Macron, following the announcement of the One Planet Data Initiative, and UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions Michael R. Bloomberg in June 2022 in response to a global climate data challenge.

The CDSC aims to accelerate and help build a broadly accessible foundation of high-quality private sector climate data that is critical to delivering the transition. Bringing together global leaders, including regulators, policymakers, and standards setters, informed by data service providers and civil society organizations, the Committee works to address climate data challenges across the global economy.

In November 2022, the CDSC published Recommendations for the Development of the Net-Zero Data Public Utility (NZDPU). The CDSC oversees the NZDPU’s ongoing development, informed by the Climate Data Expert Advisory Panel (CDEAP), chaired by the UNFCCC and consisting of civil society organizations and other experts on climate data, and a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to provide their expertise for the NZDPU, consisting primarily of data service providers but also philanthropic organizations. The CDSC also seeks input, ideas, and expertise through outreach to relevant stakeholders and public consultation and will consider further recommendations for the most ambitious and operational solution possible.