FAQs
Who can submit their details to the database?
Each person submits their own details to the database and their entries are verified by the database’s verification team. The database includes English-speaking climate science, climate policy and energy experts, who are nationals of global south countries.
The database does not include:
- Journalists
- Activists who are not also experts in climate science, climate policy or energy
- Experts from countries in the global north, including Australia
- Experts who live in the global south, but are nationals of only global north countries
- Experts who do not specialise in climate change
How are submissions to the database verified?
Our team checks each submission, to ensure that:
- The individual has nationality with at least one country in the global south.
- The individual has relevant expertise in climate science, energy or policy.
- The submission is not spam, a bot or a repeat.
- Spelling mistakes are removed and answers are formatted correctly.
- We use the applicant’s webpage for and other publicly available information to do this. If important details are missing or unclear, the team will email the expert for clarification.
I submitted my details to the database using the google form. Why am I not on the website yet?
New responses to the database are verified every few months. However, it could take longer if the team needs to clarify anything with you.
If you submitted your details over 3 months ago and are still not on the website, please check your emails (also check your spam folder). We may be waiting for a response from you.
How do I change or delete my details?
If you wish to amend or remove your details from the list, please email [email protected]
Why does the map show experts from global north countries?
All experts on the database are nationals of at least one global south country. However, some experts have dual nationality, and are affiliated with both a global north and a global south country. Experts with dual nationality are shown twice on the map.
Is there any way of knowing who will be a good speaker? Could you rate people?
The database includes a section for experts to list their media experience. This will allow journalists to see who has experience, and look at past media appearances to make your own judgement.
Why must experts submit their own details? This is putting the burden of responsibility back onto the global south.
Self-submission means that only people interested in being contacted by the media are included in the database. It also limits any biases that might arise from the Global South Climate Database team selecting experts for the database.
Experts must also submit their own details to the database for data protection reasons. This ensures that everyone on the database has given permission for their personal data to be shared publicly. To keep this extra work to a minimum, the form is very quick to fill in.
I’m not a global south expert, how can I get involved?
You can help promote the call for submissions, and spread the word to journalists about the database by using our GSCD social media toolkit.
Who manages the database?
The database is hosted by Carbon Brief and managed by science correspondent Ayesha Tandon.
It was set up with the support of Diego Arguedas Ortiz from the Reuters Institute’s Oxford Climate Journalism Network (OCJN). Fermín Koop – an environmental reporter from Argentina and regional editor at Dialogo Chino – helped maintain the database in its first year, supported by funding from the OCJN. Katherine Dunn – content editor at OCJN – helped maintain the database throughout its second and third years.