Organisations operating in the UK space sector can submit an expression of interest for a completely free and confidential carbon audit as part of a UK Space Agency-funded space sustainability project
A free carbon audit is available for space organisations willing to support research into sustainability in the sector.
Dr Andrew Ross Wilson, from Glasgow Caledonian University, is working to develop a carbon baseline for the UK space sector, a vital step on the road to understanding the environmental impact of space activity.
Space4Climate is supporting the project by encouraging members and the wider space community to offer to take part. Satellite Applications Catapult is also collaborating on the project.
Andrew is funded through the Researcher in Residence (RiR) scheme. He says: “The main goal of the project is to figure out how much carbon the UK space sector is emitting, providing valuable insights into its environmental impact. I also want to suggest practical ways to reduce carbon emissions based on the readiness of potential solutions. Ultimately, I hope to make recommendations to the UK Space Agency, UKspace and Innovate UK, guiding the space sector toward eco-friendly practices.”
Calling for organisations to take part
Carbon baselining is the process of measuring and establishing a starting point for the amount of carbon emissions produced by a person, organisation, or system. It serves as a reference to track future changes in emissions and helps set targets for reducing carbon footprints.
The project has now reached the stage where Andrew needs to collect expressions of interests from willing organisations operating in the UK space sector. Those selected will receive a free and confidential carbon audit report, helping them understand their carbon footprint and find ways to manage it efficiently, which can also save costs.
The data collected will then be anonymised and aggregated into a broader analysis to provide a picture of how carbon intensive the UK space industry is, contributing to making the space sector more sustainable and to the UK’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
Immediate benefits
While the project is set to wrap up by the end of 2025, Dr Wilson says its effects will be felt immediately: “Participating space organisations can start taking control of their carbon footprint at no cost, jumpstarting efforts to make their operations eco-friendly through personalised action plans. This immediate impact sets the stage for continuous efforts to make the space sector more sustainable over time.”
Andrew also expressed the importance of this research more broadly, saying: “As the UK makes significant strides in understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of space activities, this project marks a crucial step toward a space sustainability in the UK. By providing insights, tools, and recommendations, we aim to foster a resilient and environmentally conscious UK space industry in line with broader national sustainability goals.”
Space4Climate is keen to promote the research project. While we work to support and encourage the best satellite-based climate services for our changing planet, we do not lose sight of our own impact on the carbon emissions of our sector.
Follow the link for more information and to submit your no obligation expression of interest: https://forms.office.com/e/Y3BD3CdgDx The timescale is flexible over the next 12 months.
