Participants of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 19th Conference of the Parties are invited to join the workshop, Transforming information into knowledge and climate action, organised by the Climate Knowledge Brokers Group, on Wednesday, 20 November 2013 between 11:30 and 13:00. The meeting will take place in Room 1 (Wroclaw Room) of the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland

Hear how an innovative global partnership of Climate Knowledge Brokers is addressing the information challenges facing climate and development professionals. At the Warsaw climate change meeting this November, join the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), and other members of the Climate Knowledge Brokers (CKB) Group at their official COP-19 side event, Transforming information into knowledge and climate action.

Are you getting lost in an ocean of information?
The fields of climate and development have undergone radical transformations over the past decades, as the world has woken up to the perils of climate change. At the same time, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have revolutionised the way we communicate, bringing many benefits but also new problems. A field once challenged by the lack of reliable and relevant data is now overwhelmed with oceans of information, pouring in from a multitude of sources inhabiting various corners of the climate development community. Today, the challenge is navigating and making sense of this information.

How knowledge brokers can help you
The sources of climate and development information and knowledge range from community groups and on-the-ground practitioners to intergovernmental organisations. The nature of that data ranges from technical specifications to statistical data, from community best practices to global policy priorities. A new generation of ‘knowledge brokers’ has emerged, organisations that have taken up the responsibility of signposting and improving access to these resources for end users.

Creating a smart grid for climate information
The CKB Group is a community of knowledge brokers operating in the climate and development space who recognised that the knowledge landscape was ineffective in delivering the right knowledge to those who needed it, when they needed it. In response, the group is creating practical solutions to improve and streamline information sharing, to steer the flow of knowledge to those who need it, and to engage and connect researchers, practitioners, policy actors and businesses to drive climate-resilient development.

Addressing four key challenges
The session will show how the CKB Group is addressing four key challenges:

• Understanding user needs – so information resources hit the spot
• Signposting the right platforms – so users don’t waste time getting lost
• Connecting climate websites – so data is shared effectively
• Learning from each other – so new information initiatives don’t have to reinvent the wheel

Panel members

• Geoff Barnard – Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN)
• Anne Hammill – International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
• Fatema Rajabali – Institute for Development Studies (IDS) / Eldis
• Florian Bauer – Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
• Jane Ebinger – (World Bank)

Also participating as commentators: Sam Bickersteth (CDKN), Louisa Denier (the REDDdesk), Christoph Feldkoetter (GIZ) and Martin Hiller (REEEP)

Image courtesy of Flickr/ John Loo