Sierra Leone News: RAIC engages partners on climate data

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On Thursday 2 November 2017, the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) in collaboration with Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) and the World Resource Institute (WRI) convened a workshop on open data in addressing Sustainable Development (SDG) gaps and reporting at the Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen. Other partners that helped to spearhead the process are the Environmental protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security and other key stakeholders. Open data is the idea that data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without a restriction from copyright, patent or other mechanism of control. The goals of the open data movement are similar to those of other “open” movements such as open source, open hardware, open content, open government and open access. Chairing the programme, the Chairman of RAIC Unisa Sesay said access to climate data falls under Goal 13 of the SDG, which he cited to be a very pertinent goal. He mentioned that development of any nation lies with the proper data management of that country. The Minister of Local Government, Maya Kaikai, said, “Climate data reporting is very crucial in 13, 14 and 15 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The SDG are the new UN global development agenda put together to succeed the Millennium Development Goals.” He said it was launched and endorsed by 193 members states of UN on 25 September in New York noting that Sierra Leone has made commitment to achieve it by 2030. He mentioned that the objective of such goals is to end world poverty and ensure prosperity in developing countries like Sierra Leone. Kaikai said the problem of lack of proper early warning system affects the lives of people during emergency situations, citing the latest mudslide and flash floods disaster.“ This workshop should create a system wherein an up to date system will be put in place to track and inform the public on such disaster before it occur,” Kaikai said. The Assistant Deputy Director EPA, Samuel Mohamed Kamara, said, “Climate change is not a distant threat. It is already costing the inhabitants of the earth. It has devastated communities, damaged homes, businesses and crops and also increases social cost on many people.” He said due to such impacts highlighted are some of the main reasons why the United Nation Framework Convention urges countries to develop and implement mitigate and adaptive strategies to examine the impact of climate and report to the UNFCC. The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Cornelius Deveaux, said the 17 SDG are the bedrock to good governance. He said access to climate data is very important noting that RAIC and the Ministry of information are more than prepared to take the lead in such development. According to the Minister that Sierra Leone is moving toward a middle economy country by 2035 and such engagements is just one of the steps to move to such direction. MJB/2/11/17 By Mohamed J. Bah Friday November 03, 2017.

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