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Open source has a key role to play in ensuring planet’s survival
September 22, 2012
By Andrew Cox
Manager
Energy Intelligence and Marketing Research
HELSINKI, Finland, Sep 22, 2012/ Troy Media/ – Open source knowledge on sustainability, economic issues and a wide range of other related subjects should be freely accessible on the web and via other outlets, according to James Cameron, non-executive Chairman of UK-based Climate Change Capital (CCC).
Open source – the free redistribution of and access to an end product’s design and implementation details (Wikipedia) - knowledge is also, he added an essential tool for many decision-makers, businesses and the wider global community.
Cameron was one of the keynote speakers during a Plenary Session of the Open Knowledge (OK) Festival – being held at Helsinki’s Aalto University but which ends today. He spoke on Thursday.
But the challenges in building up OK systems over the next decade are not to under-estimated, he added. Throughout the world there are huge quantities of data – but many of the data sets do not commingle or are not readily accessible. Connectivity and standardisation is therefore required to ensure everyone has the data and analysis capabilities that they require to develop a more sustainable world.
Cameron argued that, without access to reliable data, governments can neither know if serious problems are developing or what options are available to deal with them. He added that decision-makers also needed a ‘Ghostbusters button’ to allow them to rapidly contact specialists in the event of an emergency.
But the effort required to create OK and open data systems, Cameron said, will be worth it. OK, he said, can play a key role in formulating measures to ensure the long-term survival of the planet’s life support systems.
Andrew W. Cox is manager of UK-based Energy Intelligence & Marketing Research.
This article is FREE to use on your websites or in your publications. However, Troy Media, with a link to its web site, MUST be credited.
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