Values

Values include expectations of behavior such as openness and transparency as well as commitments to quality; such as, accuracy, validation, and efficiency.

The values of the community reflect the culture of the community. When the values of the community align with many individuals and organizations, the community invites participation. With participation the ability to develop creative and innovative solutions to complex problems evolves. This form of organization is more biological than deterministic. Since it is the vision of Openclimate.org to invite the participation of all communities interested in climate change problem solving, the values of Openclimate.org must support this inclusivity.

An essential element of Openclimate.org’s value system is openness. Openness is needed throughout, and extends from the practicalities of open source licensing to the relationship of sponsors to Openclimate.org. There is openness to join and openness to leave. There is a commitment to open documentation and communication. Documents and software developed within Openclimate.org are available to all; there is community ownership.

Following openness there are other values that have evolved as characteristic of successful open source communities. There is transparency of the community. This transparency includes known rules of behavior and knowledge of process. With this transparency those who want to join have a reasonable expectation that their joining will be to their benefit. Transparent knowledge of testing and validation will give meaning to the Openclimate.org brand. Transparency is fundamental, and establishes Openclimate.org as an honest broker of climate information.

It follows, therefore, that a value of the community is that the community is governed. The governance must include the participation of community members, rules of behavior, and the checks and balances needed to insure participatory decision making.

It is be the charge of the Charter Members to develop Openclimate.org’s initial set of values, characteristics of governance, and how these can be changed.