Robert S. Chen Co-chair/Data Sharing Task Force Geneva, Switzerland 1-3 February 2011 Implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles

GEOSS Data Sharing Principles There will be full and open exchange of data, metadata and products shared within GEOSS, recognizing relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation. All shared data, metadata and products will be made available with minimum time delay and at minimum cost. All shared data, metadata and products being free of charge or no more than cost of reproduction will be encouraged for research and education. - GEOSS 10-Year Implementation Plan, 2005

GEOSS Data Sharing Task Team In 2006 GEO established the task DA to “Further the Practical Application of the Agreed GEOSS Data Sharing Principles” The DA Task Team is led by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), an inter-disciplinary committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU) The Task Team produced: –the Data Sharing Principles White Paper, which provided a broad review of existing guidelines and data sharing barriers –the initial draft Implementation Guidelines, which were widely circulated to the GEO community for review and comment

Data Sharing Task Force In response to the 2007 Cape Town Ministerial Summit, the 2008 GEO-V Plenary in Bucharest established the GEOSS Data Sharing Task Force (DSTF), to build upon the excellent work of the Task Team DSTF Terms of Reference: Objectives (selected) –Submit an updated draft of Implementation Guidelines for the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles to Plenary 2009 –Prepare an Action Plan to implement the Data Sharing Principles and to enable the development of working procedures for data sharing within GEOSS –Produce (supporting) documentation (including assessments on the actions to be taken; some representative costs and benefits; and responsibilities for the proposed data sharing processes)

Implementation Guidelines for the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles (DSP) Accepted by the GEO-VI Plenary, Washington D.C., Nov Promoting implementation of the principle of full and open exchange of data according to GEOSS Data Sharing Principles Enabling GEOSS users to reuse and re-disseminate shared data, metadata and products Ensuring consistency in the implementation of the GEOSS DSP with relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation Implementing pricing policies consistent with GEOSS DSP Reducing time delays for making data available through GEOSS Promoting research and education uses of GEOSS data, metadata and products

slide 6 Data Sharing Implementation Guidelines When endorsing the Implementation Guidelines the GEO-VI Plenary accepted that in the context of the GEOSS DSP, “full and open exchange” means: “…that data and information made available through the GEOSS are made accessible with minimal time delay and as few restrictions as possible, on a nondiscriminatory basis, at minimum cost for no more than the cost of reproduction and distribution”

GEO Collectively Actions 1, 2, 3 and 4 GEO Members Actions 5 and 6 GEO Members and PO Actions 7 and 8 GEOSS Data Sharing Action Plan for the Implementation of the GEOSS DSP Specifies 8 actions to be pursued by:

Proposed Data Sharing Action 1 Create the GEOSS Data Collection of Open Resources for Everyone (GEOSS Data-CORE) to address GEO Societal Benefit Areas The GEOSS Data-CORE is a distributed pool of documented datasets, contributed by the GEO community on the basis of full and open unrestricted access and at no more than the cost of reproduction and distribution * Global, homogeneous and comparable data would therefore be particularly suitable and welcomed for the GEOSS Data-CORE.

Proposed Data Sharing Action 7 Maximize the number of documented datasets made available on the basis of full and open access –“When no information about usage rights and restrictions is provided, the presumption within GEOSS will be that the data are fully and openly available with no restrictions on use and dissemination” If useful and appropriate for informing data providers and users, the GEOSS could point to machine-readable licenses or waivers of usage rights to facilitate automated access and reduce the burden on users to complete one or more license agreements

Data Sharing Action Plan for GEO Issues Under Consideration for GEO-VIII Plenary (and beyond) 1.Populating the GEOSS Data-CORE 2.User registration 3.Attribution and data tagging 4.Handling data with restrictions 5.Data quality/documentation 6.Legal liability 7.Intellectual property, licensing, and other frameworks

“But these instances are now perceived as the exceptions to the rule…(a)nd that…testifies to the profound cultural change on data sharing that GEO is helping drive.” -- Bob Scholes, S. Africa Science, 12 November 2010 DOI: /science

What Does This Mean for the IPCC? Implementation of the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles can help change the culture of both institutions and scientists regarding open access to data and greater transparency in data management, access, and integration –Could serve as a model for increased data sharing by the broader set of nations and stakeholders represented in the FCCC Provides a voluntary intergovernmental framework for coming to consensus on definitions, terms, standards, and expectations –Less constraining, faster than other intergovernmental bodies –But not binding…depends on peer pressure, self interest

What Are Some Immediate Opportunities? Access to more historical/extant data held by GEO Members and Participating Organizations utilizing the GEOSS framework –Find and access data more easily through the GEOSS Common Infrastructure –Work with GEO community to develop integrated regional/global databases that can be made available without restrictions via the GEOSS Data-CORE Development of real-time/near real-time monitoring capabilities via GEOSS for key variables of interest to the IPCC – and IPCC stakeholders –Utilize GEOSS web services architecture including digital rights management (tbd) to facilitate rt/nrt processing and integration –Improve access and usability by a broad range of users

How Can the IPCC Help GEOSS Data Sharing? IPCC represents a key opportunity to demonstrate the value of full and open access to data in supporting global and regional decision making related to climate The long time frame of climate change provides a strong rationale for the need for long-term coordination of data management and access efforts The cross-cutting nature of climate change provides a strong rationale for the need for cross-disciplinary data sharing and integration efforts