Open data driving sustainability: Towards sustainable development and innovation

Open data is becoming a powerful tool in the global push for sustainability, enabling transparency, innovation, and informed decision-making across industries and governments. Through freely available datasets, everyone can access valuable insights into areas like energy consumption, carbon emissions, and environmental protection. The EU is at the forefront of this movement, providing accessible data to support sustainable practices across sectors.  

A key resource for these efforts is data.europa.eu, which offers diverse content, from data stories to reports and webinars, detailing sustainability initiatives. One example is our data story showcasing how open data is being used for the blue economy, the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic purposes while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem. Open data gives also useful insights to understand the impact of renewable hydrogen, a simple and abundant element that can be a versatile energy resource.  

Open data’s contribution to sustainability does not stop here. Companies can leverage data to create environmentally friendly products and services, and citizens can use it to make more sustainable lifestyle choices. Datasets on data.europa.eu illustrate how businesses and communities are using open data to track resources, reduce waste, and optimise energy use. Information covering Environmental Zone in Sweden and charging stations for electric vehicles in France supports a greater understanding of how Europe is transitioning to cleaner energy sources.  

Ultimately, open data’s role in sustainability is invaluable. Resources like data.europa.eu not only support the EU’s climate goals for a sustainable future, but also serve as valuable references for local authorities, businesses, and researchers aiming to implement or enhance their sustainability initiatives. Did we miss to mention reports available on our platform? Stay tuned for the next news about a report that promises to complete the picture on sustainable open data business models! 

For more news and events, follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to our newsletter.