Is net zero even possible without open data with Gavin Starks

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of open data in achieving net zero and features an interview with Gavin Starks about data governance and sustainability reporting.

The UK’s 2025 Data Act marks a turning point in how data is shared and governed. Just as common standards in telecoms and banking unlocked innovation, trusted data could be the key to credible climate action. But with carbon reporting fragmented and confidence in the numbers low, can open data really help us reach net zero? In this episode of Tech Tomorrow , David Elliman speaks with Gavin Starks, founder of Icebreaker One, about why net zero is impossible without shared, reliable data. They draw lessons from open banking—how standards, governance, and collaboration turned a technical challenge into a multi-billion-pound ecosystem—and ask what it would take to do the same for climate. They also spotlight Icebreaker One’s project Perseus, which is building the data infrastructure to automate SME sustainability reporting and connect emissions data directly with green finance. By cutting friction for small businesses and giving banks numbers they can trust, Perseus shows how shared data can turn compliance into opportunity. Episode Highlights: 01:00 – An introduction to Gavin. 01:25 – When we talk about open data in the context of climate action, what do we actually mean? 04:17 –…

People in this episode

Host: David Elliman

Guest: Gavin Starks

Topics covered

• open data
• climate action
• net zero
• carbon reporting
• sustainability
• data governance

Keywords

• open data
• net zero
• climate action
• carbon reporting
• sustainability
• data infrastructure
• green finance
• SME reporting

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Icebreaker One, Perseus

Places: UK

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