The Future of Sustainable Data Alliance (FoSDA) exists to “identify and accelerate the reliable, actionable ESG data and related technology that is needed for improved investor decision making on the global journey to sustainable development”.
Icebreaker One has been involved in its development and are running it as part of the Icebreaker Constellation to help coordinate Net Zero action. To get involved, please see the Membership programme and get in touch with us at fosda@icebreakerone.org
Read more about its outputs at https://futureofsustainabledata.com/publications/
Background
FoSDA was formed in Davos in January 2020, spearheaded by Refinitiv and the World Economic Forum, with IIF, ASIFMA, Tsinghua University, OMFIF, GFMA, Climate Bonds Initiative, FinTech4good, Everledger, Oxford University, the Spatial Finance Initiative, Satellite Applications Catapult, Finance for Biodiversity, and GoImpact all joining as founding members.
Highlights so far
Highlights of FoSDA’s webinar on the role of data in achieving global sustainability goals:
The role of FoSDA is to act as a thought leader and forum to help advance the availability, useability and adoption of ESG data. FoSDA is currently working across four core workstreams to achieve this:
- Data Gaps & Holes: Understand where the gaps lie in ESG data and why they exist and develop and share best practices on how they might be filled;
- Forward Looking ESG Data: improve definitions and access to forward looking data for financial services for use in e.g. long-term risk assessments;
- Mapping Taxonomies To Data: provide clarity to investors and regulators on what different data sets relate to and ultimately arrive at a more harmonised, compatible and useable ecosystem of ESG data;
- Talent Development & Capacity Building: understand the gaps in skills/expertise related to ESG data and promote talent development in these areas.
FoSDA co-Chair Sherry Madera discusses forward looking ESG data with Danae Kyriakopoulou of the Sustainable Policy Institute:
FoSDA co-Chair Sherry Madera discusses FoSDA’s initial findings on data gaps with Ludovic d’Otreppe of V.E. (an affiliate of Moody’s):
More details on the intended deliverables against each workstream can be found here: https://futureofsustainabledata.com/fosda-2021-workstreams/
Icebreaker One are proud to help lead FoSDA; it’s a community whose goals are very aligned with Net Zero. Read our article ESG Data for a Green and Sustainable Future featuring the FoSDA workstreams here: https://icebreakerone.org/2021/03/16/esg-data-for-a-green-and-sustainable-future/.