IP laws applicable to climate data without doubt create obstacles to scientific research by restricting access to the use of information and, as a result, making climatologists’ efforts to solve global environmental problems less efficient. Part of the problem is being addressed by policies pursued by a
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number of states and international organizations to provide open access to data obtained by state-run scientific centers or entities using government financing. The Arctic is on a forefront of international cooperation of ecologists and access to regional climate data is significantly facilitated by national and international regulations as well as open data access provided by various governmental agencies and their subsidiaries. However, without direct regulatory restrictions on the IP rights application to climate data, restrictions or bans on climate information access will keep being a problem. The removal of classified climate data from the list of copyright protected objects on national and international levels could become an important step in resolving global climate problems. Creating internationally recognized common technical standards for climate data collection and processing as well as developing standard software solutions available for free use to researchers around the world could be additional measures facilitating exchange of climate data.