Abstract

Climate change and its effects are among the key challenges society faces today. Efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change have pointed to the key role of climate and weather data, and the possibility for these to be combined with other forms of data. Despite the availability of climate and weather data collected over decades, the actionability of these data remains a challenge in climate-sensitive areas, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to explore how climate health data can be made actionable by using an action design research methodology and the theoretical concept of data commodification. The paper focuses on a climate health case in Malawi where climate and weather data are used to improve food security in order to reduce negative health outcomes, such as malnutrition. Findings show that ensuring the actionability of data requires data that focuses on the local context, the structuring of data, and the utilisation of the installed base. The paper provides insights into the literature on data as an independent research object, while suggesting solutions for making climate and weather data actionable for the end user.

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