Moderated by Hannah Cool, COO, Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ), the panel also included: 

• Jessica Bingham, Head of Sustainability Strategy, ACCA. 
• Tomas van der Heijden, CEO, Briink
• Sir Andrew Steer, Professor of Practice, Economics and Sustainability, LSE
• Danielle Boyd, ESG Manager, M&G Investments

Event: https://smefinanceforum.org

The SME Finance Forum (SMEFF) is a network of 300+ members and affiliates with a coverage spanning across 190+ countries. The members are primarily financial services providers such as banks, fintechs, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and microfinance institutions. The affiliates consist of policy advocacy groups, academia, SME and banking associations, training providers, and non-profit organizations.

Today we presented Perseus to the Forum, and encourage people to join the IB1 Constellation to learn more about our work (it’s free to join).

The Sustainable SME Finance hub focuses on the challenges and opportunities of extending green finance to the SME sector. Sessions cover all aspects of environmentally sustainable SME finance, including green finance, blue finance, and finance for climate change resilience. The community discusses innovative technologies for monitoring and verification, maps sources of DFI and government support for green finance, and showcases members’ work in terms of sustainable SME finance in practice.

Title: Open and shared data: Making UK data more accessible to those who can generate value, while protecting it from those with harmful intentions.

Description:
Explaining the important actions happening nationally and across the sector to remove the barriers to realising maximum value while minimising risk from opening and sharing data.

Chair welcome and introduction
Melissa Tallack, Stream Co-Lead – Northumbrian Water

Emerging and changing landscapes
Gavin Starks, Chief Executive – Icebreaker One

Call to action: Join the IB1 Constellation

Overcoming barriers to data sharing – cross sector progress
Brian Matthews – STFC

Insights from the data sharing working group to drive best practice across sectors
Sarah Hayes, Chair – Digital Twin Hub Data Sharing Working Group

There was a huge amount of optimism in the room — that we are ‘at a transition moment’ where we could get this right, or miss opportunities, or create new risks.

As we are likely to do all of the above, we must to act now and work together to maximise the value for our society, our environment and our economy while addressing material risks. As I phrased it,

We can build on a critical mass, or end up in a critical mess.

We heard from digital identity providers about the huge growth and opportunities in the sector, from private sector companies that have seen ‘misuse’ of legal precedents to try and stop them adding value to consumers and workers, the scale of benefit to getting data interoperability right, and the risks that if we do not seize this moment to get data governance right then we are exposing ourselves, our economy and our country to systemic risks.

I wanted to summarise some of the key points from across the day, with a particular focus on the policy landscape, and what this means for us. The Government panel included a great cross-section of the ecosystem.

My main take-aways from the day are:

1. We need to take a bold and broad view of data’s role in our economy, as part of our industrial strategy
2. There are material opportunities to drive economic growth and improve market outcomes
3. There is a critical need for a coherent policy approach to data
4. Collaboration and coordination is essential, across government departments and with industry
5. There are many government initiatives: Digital Information and Smart Data Bill, National Data Library and AI Action Plan (and more) that need to be connected
6. Smart data policy is focusing on both customer and business data and we must align them, while letting each address their own needs
7. The upcoming smart data bill will give government powers to introduce smart data schemes in any sector
8. There is need to support strategy development with new ministers, and input is being actively sought now
9. Initiatives should be impact and value-led with a focus on user needs, not ‘tech-led’
10. Without robust, scalable and flexible data governance we will create new risks (especially with AI)
11. Smart data schemes are important for both consumer empowerment and market competition
12. Open Banking continues to be an exemplar
13. We must address the regulatory foundations, costs and incentives in the development of any Schemes
14. We must balance data protection with data access and innovation
15. Trust is central to development and investment is needed in capacity and capabilities
16. We must coordinate and collaborate with international initiatives, some of which are very well funded (e.g. the EU has invested €1B in Data Spaces)

Everyone in the room sees the potential of smart data initiatives to drive innovation and economic growth. There was also good acknowledgement of the complexities and challenges in implementing such schemes effectively. For example, there are material economic and societal risks of ‘corporate capture’ (e.g. castle-moat behaviours) and that it’s not a ‘technology problem’ (we have the tech today).

The design principles that we put in place now must:
1. Act to provide clarity (e.g. roadmaps) so everyone can plan
2. Act now: the time for theory is over
3. Address the (timely, material) risks of known unknowns

My policy view is that the UK has:

1. A comprehensive approach. It is cross-departmental and recognises the value of policy and regulation as catalysts to economic growth, service improvements, and legal protections.
2. A foundational legislative framework. Primary and secondary legislation will provide powers to introduce smart data schemes across sectors and create a foundation for data schemes across the economy.
3. An emergent approach to balancing priorities of data protection and security with the innovation and economic growth. The development of Trust Frameworks and Schemes, done well, should increase data access and portability while addressing risks of many forms.
4. A sector-based approach. It recognises that different sectors must own and shape their own destinies, while enforcing cohesion and interoperability across the legislative spectrum.
5. An understanding of the need for public-private action. Smart Data Schemes are powerful tools that can enforce these and must include:
   • Mandated participation
   • Mandatory interoperability between schemes
   • Regulatory oversight
   • Clarification on costs
   • Clarification on incentives (positive and negative)
   • Flexibility to adapt to market changes

There was general acknowledgement of the scale of the task ahead: multi-stakeholder engagement, alignment on language, building skills and capabilities, the articulation of material benefits, and the demonstration of impact to build trust, systemically and carefully, over time.

There is a growing public expectation of data portability, and we must align policy and their implementation with this culture change.

The foundation of open markets is transparency. The foundation of a digitally-enabled economy is interoperability. As such we must base our approach on open systems, and design for open.

The UK has led the world with initiatives such as Open Banking. It has, in some opinions, fallen behind over subsequent years. My opinion is the UK is ‘connected’ enough that it can rapidly redress this and, once again, accelerate to a leadership position. It has exceptional skills that can navigate the complex landscape of data rights and technological change to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.

We must address the market architecture for an open (digitally-enabled) economy.

From a business perspective, I believe business leaders must now address data sharing at board level. Data isn’t ‘a technology’ — it makes markets.

I’ve long advocated that data increases in value the more it is connected. The imperative is, therefore, to reduce the friction to such connections. Smart Data Schemes can enable this at market-wide scale.

Businesses should understand that:

• Smart Data schemes will open up new opportunities for innovation and market entry
• preparation is needed for upcoming regulations and potential costs of scheme participation
• there is huge potential for cross-sector data applications and new product/service development
• that customer data portability and security will increase in importance
• there is a value in engaging with policymakers and investing in technologies to leverage smart data initiatives

The room was under no illusion that there are many material challenges. There will be a process of ‘creative destruction’, new threat vectors and many incumbent interests that will not want to address this systems change.

However, the ship is now leaving the port, the time for theory is over: time to act is now.

If you’d like to get in touch or follow progress, please connect on LinkedIn: Icebreaker One or directly with me, or join our mailing list.

You can follow them at https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/bim4water/

Today we presented to the the BIM4WATER members on how to think about Data Sharing.

Related links

https://ib1.org/water

https://www.streamwaterdata.co.uk

https://www.britishwater.co.uk/news/588908/The-BIM4Water-Data-Taskforce-releases-key-recommendations-for-public-consultation.htm

https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/open-data-in-the-water-industry/

IB1 provided a keynote presentation for the event.

Workshop Overview:
The UK-India Data Stewardship for Climate through AI workshop is a collaborative initiative of the
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with the Aapti Institute, Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Bombay and the Open Data Institute (ODI), aimed at addressing the pressing
challenges of climate change through responsible data stewardship and the application of artificial
intelligence (AI) technologies. With climate change posing significant threats to ecosystems,
communities, and economies globally, there is an urgent need for innovative approaches to mitigate
its impacts and adapt to changing environmental conditions. This project seeks to harness the power of data and AI to enhance our understanding of climate dynamics, facilitate evidence-based decision-
making, and drive actionable solutions towards a more sustainable future.

Event: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7641e9da-ac44-43a2-81f3-6c189afe39e4@8367e908-6545-4e01-b752-8f0a8dda9715

Slides used in our presentation.

‘Competitors aren’t competitors on every front.’ Ian Sutherland, CFO and Head of Net-Zero, Tide, told an audience of 65 industry experts spanning the fields of Banking, Fintech, Government and beyond at the Perseus meet & greet event. Reminding us that, when it comes to meeting our net zero commitments, collaboration trumps competition every time. 

Unexpected Coalitions 

The kind of collaboration we’re seeing with the Perseus project is far reaching too. Rather than being isolated to a single sector, it’s facilitating ‘unexpected coalitions’ and creating cross-industry alignment. The potential benefits of the project are also clear, with Perseus looking to automate GHG reporting for every SME in the UK. 

SMEs make up nearly half of UK business emissions while generating 52% of GDP, making it evident that, both on a financial and environmental front, the potential impact of project Perseus could be huge. The next question is how exactly will Perseus create impact? By making automated emissions reporting possible, Perseus can inform investment decisions, enable targeted decarbonisation interventions, reduce reporting burdens and unlock green finance.

Delving deeper into the session, a panel of industry experts from Natwest, British Business Bank, Tide and UK Finance looked at what Perseus can bring to the banking sector. One panellist described Perseus as the potential anchor of trust needed in reporting, especially when it comes to aligning on methodologies. Another highlighted the project’s emphasis on utilising half-hourly data directly from smart metres as a critical step towards obtaining verified data—the holy grail for the banking sector.

Looking beyond energy data

As the meeting drew to a close, the spirit of collaboration that runs through Perseus was reinforced with two interactive polls. One poll asked ‘Who else should be involved in the project?’ and another asked ‘What’s the one thing we should do next’? It was here that the art of the possible began to expand, as attendees in the room and online began to envision further cross industry cooperation as well as looking to industries like Gas and Business Transport as future avenues to explore.

The urgency in the room was matched by the Perseus roadmap which demonstrated the pace of the project. Last year, the Perseus demonstrator was presented at COP28, alongside a report that involved collaboration from 150 different individuals. This year, the project aims to build out a trust framework, solidify industry confidence before progressing into its pilot stage. 

If you are interested in becoming a member of Perseus, please get in touch at perseus@ib1.org

What impact does open water data have on the water sector’s ability to confront challenges arising from climate change, environmental dynamics, and evolving customer expectations? And how can companies and utilities work together to achieve success as they embark on the path to making their data more accessible?

Discussing the opportunities and challenges surrounding open data in the water sector, our panel joined environmental journalist and QTalks host Tom Freyberg to answer these questions:

• Nigel Watson, CIO at Northumbrian Water Group
• Gavin Starks, CEO at Icebreaker One
• Lewis Richards, Microsoft CTO for the UK Water Industry

Full episode available below.

Source, and text summary at

AWS hosted an event to explore the challenges of the industry today as we all look to the Energy Systems of the Future and its customers, plus the role that data will play in delivering a more interconnected, data-rich and complex energy system.

Gavin’s slides are below (and as PDF)

https://energyandutilities.splashthat.com/

Forum description:

The pandemic has demonstrated that there is strong public benefit derived from researchers having prompt access to a variety of data sources, such as data from public and government bodies, as well as private companies (in particular, tech companies). There is also significant interest in how we connect and link the different data sources. The Forum will address the evolution of researcher access to data; best practices and lessons learned from fields that are at the forefront of data sharing (i.e., climate studies, astrophysics, biomedicine); and challenges related to pressing societal problems such as online information (and misinformation), modelling for pandemics, and using data in emergencies.

Location:
National Academy of Sciences Building, 2101 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20418

Session 4: Privately Held Data: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons for Researchers

Session Chair: Gina Neff, Professor and Executive Director, Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy, University of Cambridge

This session will explore data collected by private companies, which often contain useful insights that
can help alleviate major societal challenges including climate change, healthcare, food security, and
disinformation. Accessing this data, however, can be costly, controversial, and unreliable. Solving
these challenges could help unlock vast amounts of data for researchers, providing novel insights and
better guidance for policymakers. With lessons from social media platforms, mobile health
applications, and retailers, this session will highlight best practice for accessing data held by private
companies and consider solutions to the challenges of commercial sensitivity, data protection, and
emergency preparedness. Attendees can expect to leave with an understanding of the value to be
gained from privately held data, topical data security challenges, and an overview of partnership-enhancing technologies.

Slides [PDF version] and embedded below

The aim is to create a demonstrator that automates carbon footprinting using electricity data in an assurable way. This will reduce the risk for lending book, increase green lending, and unlock access to capital for SMEs on the race to zero.

The initiative has gained both commercial buy-in and government support through the Net Zero Council chaired by Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart MP. The coalition hopes this level of support will encourage others in different parts of the ecosystem to join.

The group discussed:

• that data quality is key and highlighted the potential benefits that accurate information can bring SMEs
• that carbon accounting today mostly relies on ineffective spend-based estimates, so it’s necessary to access primary data, at high-resolution, which is actionable and assurable. This will help small businesses win more customers by verifying their sustainability efforts and gaining trust from customers.
• that banks plan to support green loans but need data demonstrating its impact, making it important that SMEs engage with this issue through automation while also being educated about what’s happening in the background uniformly agreed upon by the government.
• the importance of supporting and harmonising the usage of existing standards for carbon reporting
• the need to focus on energy efficiency in commercial buildings.
• the challenges of measuring emissions across different sectors, such as agriculture, and stressed the importance of collaborating with international organizations to ensure interoperability.
• the goal is to create a blueprint for scaling this initiative internationally while avoiding the proliferation of other methodologies or standards.
• that government may need to intervene and establish one set of rails for everyone to minimize effort and confusion.
• the engagement process with SMEs regarding carbon accounting and data sharing. The government is working to provide trusted sources of advice and guidance, while also incentivizing participation in the program. There is a focus on building trust through consent-based data sharing between energy data providers, accounting platforms, banks, and regulators. However, there are concerns about anti-competitive practices in the market and this initiative needs to be framed as a tool for competitiveness rather than just fulfilling regulatory requirements.
• the need for clear communication to bridge the understanding gap among businesses and consumers alike.
• the importance of large enterprises and mid-market companies caring about their SMEs in a different way for sustainability. The need to understand what SMEs need, such as clear and accurate data, was emphasized. Smart meters were discussed, and there is a call for clarity on how to handle energy data appropriately. The group discussed creating a narrative around competitiveness and market opportunity for SMEs with respect to climate change. There is an ask for more clarity on the use case for financial institutions, including delivering universal data.
• overall, the focus is on making sure all stakeholders are engaged in this project and working together cohesively towards achieving net zero emissions goals.

Next steps

• Create demonstrator
• Address reporting standards for small businesses
• Create a concise statement or page explaining what’s happening with the project and why SMEs don’t have to do anything
• Joint presentation at COP involving stakeholders from bankers, energy sector, and targeted SME sector showcasing success of project

To get involved, please contact perseus@ib1.org

https://app.livestorm.co/customer-experience-foundation/webinar-how-to-deliver-a-customer-centric-data-driven-approach-to-net-zero/live [nb: registration currently required]

Gavin’s presentation covered the systemic changes that are happening, enabled by better access to data, that require a different mode of thinking as to what constitutes ‘business as usual’, and how these relate to our net zero future.

Background

For this Webinar, CXFO partnered with Teleperformance to discuss the topic: How to deliver a customer-centric, data-driven approach to net zero.

Many UK businesses are facing a number of challenges, including rising customer expectations, the need to decarbonise, and the increasing importance of the correct use of data.

This webinar will explore how organisations can overcome these challenges and create a more sustainable future for themselves and their customers. It will also look at how UK companies can use data to improve customer experience, reduce costs, and decarbonise their operations.

Speakers

Our keynote speaker is Gavin Starks, CEO of Icebreaker One, a non-profit organisation that aims to make data work harder to deliver a Net Zero Future. The webinar will also feature participants from organisations who will share their insights on how they are using data to improve customer experience, reduce costs, and decarbonise their operations.

Data

Data is a powerful tool that can be used to improve customer experience, reduce costs, and decarbonise operations. By collecting and analysing data, companies can gain insights into customer behaviour, identify areas where costs can be saved, and develop new products and services that meet the needs of their customers.

Net Zero

The UK has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This is a major challenge, but it is one that many companies are well-placed to help meet. By using data to improve efficiency and develop new low-carbon technologies, companies can play a vital role in helping the UK achieve its net zero goals.

Customer Experience Case Study

Customers are increasingly demanding a better experience. For energy and utilities companies for example, they want to be able to access their accounts online, manage their energy usage, and get help when they need it, all through a single, easy-to-use platform. Companies that can deliver a great customer experience will be well-positioned to win and retain customers.

Why Attend?

The webinar will provide you with the latest insights on how to use data to improve customer experience, reduce costs, and decarbonise their operations.

Get the latest insights on how to:

• Improve customer satisfaction
• Reduce costs
• Increase innovation
• Enhance brand reputation
• Create more sustainable future

24 May 2023 10:30 – 12:10

https://www.innovationzero.com/programme-2023?&filters.STREAM=energy-forum&searchgroup=2BBF7E7B-programme

This session gives a unique opportunity for UK start-ups/unicorns/SMEs with genuinely ground-breaking technology to pitch their innovations and inspire the audience as to how they can play a part in accelerating the ‘zero’ transition. Technologies across nuclear, battery storage, hydrogen, carbon capture, network balancing, fuel cells, electrification, circular economy (e.g., waste to fuel) are expected.

This session welcomes innovators and thought leaders with the ideas and technologies to make a difference.

Where: Register here for the live webinar

About this webinar: As part of our Open Net Zero work, Icebreaker One is convening stakeholders across the ESG ecosystem, providing valuable insights on how more transparent, comparable and standardised environmental data can benefit both the planet and business. 

We’ll hear from our researchers; Sheree Hellier and Emmanuel Coker, who are working to uncover the gaps in ESG data, as well as defining the requirements for a framework for easily discoverable and accessible net zero data. 

And, as we approach one year since mandatory TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) regulations were put in place, we’ll see to what extent environmental data is becoming available and how this can be put to use in the financial economy. 

Please join us at 2pm on the 28th March 2023 to gain greater knowledge of the ESG data landscape.

What we’ll cover:

• Defining the ESG ecosystem and the goals of Open Net Zero
• The differing levels of accessibility in ESG data
• The key issues in access and comparability of ESG data
• The role of ESG data in providing a more complete view of climate risk

Who:
Gavin Starks, Founder, Icebreaker One
Sheree Hellier, Researcher, Icebreaker One
Emmanuel Coker, Business Data Analyst, Icebreaker One

If you think a colleague or sector expert would be interested in joining this event, please share it with them.

Outcomes we highlighted included Open Standards and Trust Framework(s):

1. A clear, trusted, impactful and detailed governance framework that enables government, businesses across sectors, consumers and third-party developers to understand the potential of open access to data.
2. Detailed descriptions of the application of the framework in practice, based on user needs and use cases.
3. Delivery of Search and Governance as industry-facing operational services that instil trust. 

This is part of a contribution towards the implementation of the G7 ARE’s Berlin Roadmap 2022-2025 during Japan’s Presidency of the G7 in 2023.

In 2019, the Environment Ministers’ Communique outlined the need for broad ecosystem collaboration to improve resource efficiency. The communique recognised the burden associated with complex and often divergent reporting frameworks. It also envisioned product-level, transparent emissions reporting and data exchange across the value chain.

The Berlin Roadmap for the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency (G7 ARE) (2022-2025) emphasizes the need for the exchange of granular, high-quality environmental information to prevent greenwashing. The roadmap leverages best practices and identifies gaps and pain points that hinder progress.

G7 goals and legislation
The G7 is aligned in its ambitious goals to decarbonise, drive resource efficiency and enhance biodiversity, and it acknowledges the pivotal role that these goals play in achieving sustainable development.

Discussions have included:
• the status quo and challenges concerning the exchange of product data
• the role of cooperation in addressing gaps and potential synergies in ongoing initiatives
• how can policymakers support progress

Imagine a world where accurate, trustworthy data flows easily around the world, helping decision-makers take bigger, bolder and more accurate steps towards net zero.

https://stateofopencon.com

About this webinar:
Icebreaker One has partnered with the Data Communications Company (DCC) to run a feasibility assessment of an open, standards-based approach for a Smart Meter Data Repository.

This is part of a Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) project to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of a Smart Meter Energy Data Repository, to quantify the benefits and costs of such a repository, and to simulate how it could work.

Access to energy data – including smart meter data – is vital for a flexible, digitalised, and decentralised energy system. The Energy Digitalisation Taskforce report recognises data as being crucial to the delivery and operation of a net zero energy system, and acknowledges smart meter data as a key dataset is not effectively flowing.
Watch this webinar to hear more about the SODA project and how smart meter data can help us all to achieve net zero.

Who:
Kathryn Corrick, Development & Strategy Director, Icebreaker One
Matt James, Head of Strategic Innovation, Smart DCC
Michael Bird, Researcher, Icebreaker One
Gea Mikic, Programme Director, Icebreaker One