Environmental Data Issues in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Paul F. Uhlir Director, International S&T Information Programs The National Academies 5 March 2004

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS 1. WSIS overview 2. Science in WSIS 3. Environmental data and related access issues 4. Next steps

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS Competing political, technological, economic forces Major trends toward open access:  Democratization  ICTs—open digital networks  Information commons Major trends toward information control:  National security/counter-terrorism  Information security/digital technology controls  Privatization/commercialization/IPRs

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS Purpose of WSIS: a high-level forum for government, civil society, and industry to focus on issues of access to information, knowledge and communication technologies for development and to promote the benefits of the ICT revolution. Geneva 12/03 and Tunis 11/05. Themes  Human rights—universal access/freedom of expression  Internet “governance”  Net security  IPRs vs. public domain and open access  “Digital Solidarity” fund  Recognition of the “central role of science”

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS Science in WSIS:  Role of ICSU/CODATA, the U.S. National Academies, UNESCO, and several national delegations Science-related side events at WSIS:  CERN Symposium on the Role of Science in the Information Society (in cooperation with TWAS, ICSU, CODATA)  International Research Foundation for Development’s World Forum on the Information Society (numerous sessions)  UNESCO Science Roundtable (in cooperation with ICSU, CODATA, TWAS)  ICT4D exhibits

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS Science-related action items from WSIS Plan of Action: 1) Scientific information management, policy, and applications 2) ICT research and applications 3) Public-private partnerships focused on developing countries for scientific information access and management, for research in ICTs, and for high- priority scientific applications

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for Scientific Information Management, Policy, and Applications 20. e-environment, including: a) Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders, to use and promote ICTs for environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources. c)Establish monitoring systems, using ICTs, to forecast and monitor the impact of natural and man-made disasters…. 21. e-agriculture, including: a)Systematic dissemination of info on agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, and food…particularly in rural areas. b)Maximize the use of ICTs to improve the quantity and quality of agricultural production

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for Scientific Information Management, Policy, and Applications (continued) 22. e-science, including: b)Promote electronic publishing, differential pricing and open access initiatives to make scientific information affordable and accessible in all countries on an equitable basis. c)Promote the use of peer-to-peer technology to share scientific knowledge, and pre-prints and reprints written by scientific authors who have waived their right to payment. d)Promote the long-term systematic and efficient collection, dissemination and preservation of essential scientific digital data… e)Promote principles and metadata standards to facilitate cooperation and effective use of collected scientific information and data as appropriate to conduct scientific research.

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for Scientific Information Management, Policy, and Applications (continued) Access to information and knowledge: 10.a) Develop policy guidelines for the development and promotion of public-domain information as an important international instrument promoting public access to information. 10.h) Support the creation and development of digital public library and archive services… 10.i) Encourage initiatives to facilitate…free and affordable access to open access journals and books, and open archives to scientific information.

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for ICT Research and Applications Access to information and knowledge: 10.e) Encourage research and promote awareness of the possibilities offered by different software (S/W) models, and the means of their creation, including proprietary, open-source, and free software in order to increase competition, freedom of choice and affordability, and to enable all stakeholders to evaluate which solution best meets their requirements. 10.g)Encourage research, including on innovative forms of networking, adaptation of ICT infrastructure, tools and applications that facilitate accessibility of ICTs for all, particularly disadvantaged groups. 10.j)Support R&D on the design of useful instruments to foster increased awareness and evaluation of different S/W models/tools.

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for ICT Research and Applications 12. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs (numerous actions, a.-j.) 13. Enabling environment o)Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders, should raise awareness of the importance of international interoperability standards for e-commerce. p)Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders, should promote the development and use of open, interoperable, non- discriminatory and demand-driven standards. r)ITU and other regional orgs should take steps to ensure rational, efficient and economical use of and equitable access to the R/F spectrum by all countries, based on relevant int’l agreements.

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for ICT Research and Applications 22. e-science a) Promote affordable and reliable high-speed Internet connection for all universities and research institutions to support their critical role in information and knowledge production, education and training, and to support the establishments of partnerships, cooperation and networking between these institutions. General role of ICT research for other applications called out, including: e-government, e-environment, and e-agriculture

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS WSIS Actions for Public-Private Partnerships General encouragement in WSIS Plan of Action for collaboration in all areas. March 23 Meeting at NAS on Prospective WSIS-related Activities Focus on the role of the U.S. scientific and technical community in supporting the U.S. government and industry in addressing WSIS goals Specific projects and initiatives to be discussed with government and industry representatives and National Academies staff

Environmental Data Issues in WSIS Scientific Information Management, Policy, and Applications Initiatives at the National Academies and CODATA  Strategies for Preservation of and Open Access to Digital Information Resources in China (Beijing, June 2004). Similar workshop planned for health and environmental information resources in southern Africa for 2005, and Latin America  Strengthening the Information Commons for Public Science and Innovation: Strategic Institutional and Policy Approaches (2-year study planned beginning fall 2004).  CODATA-ICSTI Web portal for Digital Archiving of Scientific Information Resources (with emphasis on developing countries).  Inventory of WSIS-related activities in US and ICSU  Possible public/private initiatives in S&T