Blueprint 3: Data

The Data Blueprint proposes a general specification for data architecture and information systems to accurately measure progress toward financial, economic, social and environmental sustainability via dynamic interlinkages between the individual company (micro), industry (meso), and environmental, social, and economic systems (macro) levels in order to spur the emergence of a truly green, regenerative, inclusive, and open global economy. Taking a “Positive Maverick” approach, it transcends the incrementalist approaches to data of ESG to focus on transforming raw data into insightful information, decision-useful intelligence, and actionable knowledge. The general specification is based on three primary dimensions necessary for building out a data infrastructure that fulfills the potential of triggering transformative systems change:

• Integration of the multiple capitals (natural, human, social, built, and financial) to optimize positive synergies between and amongst them, to better support the creation of financial, societal (shared), and system value (to employ a recently coined term.)
• Contextualization of organization-level impacts on the multiple capitals within the  carrying capacities of those capitals at the systems level, either a virtuous (regenerative) or vicious (degenerative) cycle.
• Activation of responses when the sustainability of any capitals – and hence the potential for biota well-being and human fulfillment – is placed at significant risk. Data without engagement falls short of its potential; “activated” data fulfills its potential of driving the change signaled by integrated, contextualized data.

Throughout this report, the Data Blueprint cites examples of shortcomings and gaps in need of filling, as well as emerging best practices that exemplify approaches to data integration and contextualization that serve multicapital accounting. And each of the 3 primary chapters (on Integration, Contextualization, and Activation) ends with a series of Recommendations for relevant constituencies such as reporters, standard-setters, governments and intermediaries, and investors and other stakeholders, framed at 3 maturity levels from educate to advocate to accelerate. Following the release and publication of this Data Blueprint report, r3.0 is launching its Beta Testing Program to pilot Recommendations from the Blueprint. This report profiles a few of these pilot projects.