In an effort to enhance access to vital environmental data, Watershed has launched an initiative named “Cornerstone” in collaboration with Stanford University’s Stanford Sustainable Solutions Lab. This project seeks to maintain and expand the availability of essential datasets that aid companies in measuring Scope 3 emissions. The collaboration aims to consolidate existing data models and provide open access to them, a move anticipated to benefit organizations in their sustainability endeavors.
Historically, a variety of models have been employed for carbon accounting, particularly for Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions throughout a company’s value chain. Models like the US Environmental Protection Agency’s USEEIO and Watershed’s Comprehensive Environmental Data Archive (CEDA) have been prominently used due to their extensive application in policy research and emissions measurements. Previous initiatives had not effectively combined these resources, making this collaboration a breakthrough in terms of data integration and accessibility.
What is Cornerstone’s Core Component?
Central to Cornerstone’s mission is serving as a hub for open access to the USEEIO and CEDA models. These models are pivotal for corporate carbon measurements, reportedly facilitating around 65% of Scope 3 calculations globally. To lead this initiative, Watershed has enlisted environmental experts such as Dr. Wesley Ingwersen, who previously contributed to the USEEIO model, and Dr. Sangwon Suh, known for developing CEDA.
How Will This Initiative Expand Its Scope?
Beyond its current model, Cornerstone plans to broaden its environmental framework. It intends to merge USEEIO and CEDA into a single, global multi-regional input-output model. This development will not only enhance Scope 3 measurements but also venture into evaluating air and water quality, water usage, and waste generation. Stanford’s lab will leverage this model for research to tackle sustainability challenges, particularly in energy and food systems.
The collaboration between Watershed and Stanford marks a significant shift in the way environmental data is shared and utilized. The intent is to refine carbon measurement tools and make them more accessible, allowing for a broader range of sustainability analyses. Watershed’s initiative is also a response to recent shifts in regulatory directions that may have previously limited access to critical environmental data.
The newly formed Cornerstone hub is expected to provide an expansive network for environmental data, supporting Watershed’s mission to foster sustainable practices. The initiative emerges following Watershed’s acquisition of VitalMetrics earlier this year, known for developing CEDA. Christian Anderson of Watershed emphasized the importance, stating,
“By combining the most trusted environmental data models and keeping them open to the world, we hope to help companies and organizations build and maintain momentum on sustainability.”
Managing accessible and reliable information is crucial for effectively addressing climate challenges. By aiming to support ongoing model development, Cornerstone aspires to widen the participation of open-source contributors over time, promoting collaborative advances in the field.
Providing open access models could effectively support corporate and policy decisions, enhanced by the reputable contributions from environmental expertise at both Watershed and Stanford. Efforts such as these highlight the continued need for innovative partnerships in the pursuit of sustainability goals. Robust data frameworks will be key to this endeavor, allowing for increased precision in emissions reporting and environmental strategy formation.
