Climatiq.io - Emissions Factor Data [NOT OPEN + OPEN CLAIMED]

[rufuspollock]

https://www.climatiq.io/

Introduction

It's a carbon data company with an API. They were a SXSW pitch winner in 2023.

The open claim

Claim their data is open ...

The best decisions are backed up by trustworthy information. Our open dataset and versatile API allow you to collect emissions data, automate carbon emission calculations ...

Also see https://www.climatiq.io/blog/raised-2-million-pioneer-open-source-emissions-data-platform

The existential crisis of climate change has never been more critical. Our ambition is to provide an open dataset of global emission data and the technical infrastructure that organisations need to inform meaningful reductions to their climate footprint.

Is it?

Let's visit their data page: https://www.climatiq.io/our-data

What we see is a big "Contact Sales" page

The data itself comes from EcoInvent it seems (a swiss not-for-profit that charges for data access afaik).

There's also another data page for the "data explorer": https://www.climatiq.io/data

Here we invited to express our interest in licensing the data:

Ok, so this is a big fail ... DEFINITELY NOT OPEN

Colophon: yet another "climate

Yet another "climate data will save the world". I've been seeing them for almost 20y now. I'm maybe getting cynical in my middle age. Not that I don't applaud the aspiration: climate change is a big deal and better data is probably some part of the solution (though we should humbly acknowledge that probably quite small).

Build for a Green Tomorrow, Today
We are Climatiq. Our mission is to drive climate action through data and insight.

The classic claim that data => knowledge => action. It's a dubious thesis even where clear monetary incentives ...

The best decisions are backed up by trustworthy information. Our open dataset and versatile API allow you to collect emissions data, automate carbon emission calculations, and ultimately, to make data-supported sustainability decisions. By understanding exactly how and where your organisation generates emissions, you can quickly start and scale effective change. [https://www.climatiq.io/about]