‘What stood out when I joined the Space4Climate stand in Dubai was the genuine interest in the space sector’ – read our blog from COP28 Volunteer Momin Ashraf
Momin Ashraf was one of the three COP28 Volunteers who joined the Space4Climate stand in Dubai. Their role was to support on organisation for our four events and to greet and engage with the hundreds of visitors to our stand in the busy Technology & Innovation Hub. Their involvement was made possible by the UK Space Agency supported by Space4Climate, the National Centre for Earth Observation and the volunteers’ own organisations. Momin had an extra special reason for wanting to be at COP28, read his blog:
I’m Momin Ashraf, and I’m thrilled to share my recent adventure as a part of the Space4Climate team at COP28. I’m part of the Satellite Applications Catapult‘s International Development and Humanitarian team and I served as one of the three COP28 Volunteers. My focus was on supporting the Space4Climate stand and taking part in discussions with visitors about the rapidly growing and flourishing UK climate from space community.
My COP28 experience was special not only because it was my first COP but it took place in Dubai – the city where I was born and raised. The convergence of my professional aspirations and personal roots made this conference a truly special and memorable moment in my professional journey.
Leading up to COP – what to expect?
I joined the Space4Climate team on the third day of COP28, so I tracked the initial days through social media and news updates. I noted the reports of controversial comments about fossil fuels and the presence of oil and gas lobbyists. As a first timer at COP, uncertainty loomed about what to expect. Would visitors to our stand show interest in climate change? Would discussions about Earth Observation technology find engagement? Talking to colleagues and friends, there appeared to be a subtle sense that resolving the climate crisis might be beyond reach.
At COP – genuine interest in space sector
My initial uncertainty vanished even before I reached the venue. With every passing station on the Metro ride to Expo City, the vast purpose-built conference complex, the number of people wearing COP28 lanyards steadily increased, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere within the train carriage. The electric energy was palpable as people from diverse corners of the globe and various industries engaged in animated conversations and shared insights on new agreed commitments. What stood out when I joined the stand in the Technology and Innovation Hub 2 was the genuine interest in the space sector, with people eagerly wanting to learn about my past projects that intersected with their business interests.
Once I arrived at COP, this atmosphere became even more intense. What stood out when I joined the Space4Climate stand, in the Technology and Innovation Hub 2, was the genuine interest in the space sector, with people eagerly wanting to learn about my past projects that intersected with their business interests. We had incredibly busy days, with well over a hundred conversations with people ranging from professionals, to teachers, students and curious individuals among the general public.
What I found particularly enjoyable was engaging in conversations about satellite imagery in the context of news coming out of the Blue Zone, such as commitments to the loss and damage fund, decarbonization pledges, or positive strides in addressing climate issues related to food and agriculture.
The new version of the Space4Climate App displayed on the PufferTouch proved to be a great tool for swiftly opening and exploring datasets and case studies, facilitating meaningful discussions. It was truly rewarding to witness people’s excitement as they discovered long-term and high-resolution data specific to their areas of interest, some with multiple datasets to address a variety of problems. Their enthusiasm for satellite technology was contagious and reinforced the significance of the UK community’s work in making such valuable resources accessible and understandable to a broader audience. A personal highlight for me was presenting UK expertise to a class of Sixth Form students at my previous school. It was particularly rewarding to witness a surge of interest among the geography students as they came to the realization that a career in the space industry with a geography degree was not only possible but also within their reach; that there was an avenue for them to potentially make meaningful contributions to projects dedicated to addressing climate change.
Exploring the Green Zone
We had a little time to explore the rest if the COP28 venue, which was very spread out and challenging to explore in the daytime heat. I spent the majority of this time at the Humanitarian Hub. This was a small room dedicated to networking and hosted talks set up by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Hub hosted more than 40 events organized with the support of dozens of entities, including local and international humanitarian partners, academics, the private sector, and governments.
I engaged in conversations with founders of climate and humanitarian start-ups, company directors and city mayors from around the world.
A predominant theme in these discussions was the emphasis on bolstering local resilience in urban centres. The pivotal role of data emerged as a central topic, highlighting geospatial and satellite technology as a key, consistent source that could address various issues in the pursuit of sustainable urban development. However, a noticeable gap was evident. There was clearly a disconnect between the remarkable work being carried out in the space industry and the practical application of this valuable data to those who need it. This observation leads me to my primary takeaway from these interactions.
What next – sharing our work
The main lessons I learned from COP28 indicate that as a space industry, we must further improve our efforts in advertising and disseminating our work to the general public and industries that can make the most use of it. It is concerning that some professionals I met in the finance industry, particularly those involved in climate-related financial discourse (TCFD) projects, had little awareness of how satellite imagery could benefit them. Despite significant progress within our industry, it appears that this information has not extended beyond our relatively small community.
COP28 has left me feeling energized and motivated for 2024. After engaging with numerous committed individuals presenting innovative solutions, I have a newfound motivation.
My goal for COP29, which I am sure is shared by many in our community within the space industry, is to have satellite data and technology commonly spoken by COP29 in November 2024, rather than being perceived as a distant concept.
