Space4Climate is working with the UK Space Agency, UK Government departments and our members to showcase UK Earth Observation for climate and the exciting developments in climate research and innovations in climates services in the first ever Space Pavilion at a COP.
Earth Observation’s crucial role in climate action is expected to be the focus of this year’s world climate summit – COP28.
Cutting-edge and future climate data, satellite technology, climate services, tools, platforms for decision-makers and market-ready products will be in the spotlight as nation delegations and negotiators focus on the first Global Stocktake and progress towards the Paris Agreement.
Space4Climate is working with the UK Space Agency, UK Government departments and our members to showcase UK Earth Observation for climate and the exciting developments in climate research and innovations in climates services in the first ever Space Pavilion at a COP.
With summer’s climate extremes at the top of the news agenda worldwide, attention is turning to climate adaptation, mitigation, financing and adoption.
More than 80,000 delegates, including 140 heads of state and governments are expected to attend COP28 in Dubai, from November 30th-December 12th.
Earth Observation for COP discussions
COP stands for Conference of the Parties and each year the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) brings world leaders together at COP to review progress UN member countries have made to limit climate change and to negotiate new actions and targets in response to the latest scientific evidence. This is why trustworthy, reliable, consistent and sustainable environmental data is so important: they underpin the evidence, climate projections and priorities and many can only be gathered accurately from space.
COPs are hosted by different countries each year, alternating between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, this year The United Arab Emirates are hosting in Dubai.
Blue Zone and Green Zone
COP activities are divided into a Blue Zone, run by the UNFCCC for governments’ official delegations, negotiators and UNFCCC-accredited observers, and a Green Zone, for wider audiences and the general public. Blue Zone delegates have access to the Green Zone but Green Zone passes do not give access to the Blue Zone. In Dubai the two zones will be immediately next to each other to encourage more Blue Zone delegation members to explore Green Zone exhibits and events as well. It is anticipated that in Dubai the Green Zone will attract an audience that includes a high portion of attendees from industry.
Technology & Innovation Hub
The COP28 Green Zone has been planned as a series of hubs including the Technology & Innovation Hub where we understand a Space Pavilion will be located, with 15-20 stands suitable for space agencies from various countries. Other hubs will focus on Decarbonisation, Knowledge, Youth and Emirati culture. Exhibitions will be hosted by the private sector, civil society, youth groups and academia.
COP28 programme and themes
As hosts, UAE has set daily themes for COP28 (below) which are also listed on www.cop28.com. Each day’s programming incorporates four cross-cutting themes seen as underpinning effective, interconnected delivery. These are: Technology & Innovation, Inclusion, Frontline Communities and Finance. They will be reflected in the day’s programme and speakers.
In addition the UNFCCC designates an Earth Information Day within the conference but at the time of writing the date has not been announced.
After the opening ceremony a two-day World Climate Action Summit takes place in the Blue Zone. Formal negotiations on climate change and action take place over the two weeks and it is not unusual for this delicate process to run over the final day deadline before an agreed statement of commitments, ambitions and targets is published.
Space4Climate at COP28
When the Blue Zone and Green Zone activity programmes are confirmed we will be able to confirm details of our activities in Dubai on behalf of our members, the UK Space Agency and the UK Earth Observation for climate community.
Our plans include:
- Showcasing members’ examples of climate services, products, tools and decision-support platforms applying trustworthy climate data from space to communities around the world, especially in least developed countries
- Raising awareness of the international influence of the UK Space Agency and EO for climate community, including through collaborations such as GEO (Group on Earth Observations) and CEOS (Community of Earth Observation Satellites)
- The impact of UK climate data from space, economic and societal benefits
- A new version of our Space4Climate App for display on the PufferTouch, presenting climate data visualisations and digital case studies from our members
- Digital communications campaigns highlighting the UK’s extensive expertise in Earth Observation for climate
- The benefits of locating space-enabled operations in the UK
- Opportunities for collaborations with UK academic institutions, the public and private sector
- Innovation in satellite Earth Observation for climate policy and action
- Demonstrating real world examples of achievements in the UK’s priority areas
- UK-led and involved climate satellite missions
- Contributing to activities and events in Dubai and the UK
- Delivering for our members and for the UK a legacy from COP28
UK’s COP28 priorities and activities in the UK Pavilion
The UK Pavilion in the Blue Zone will focus on showcasing innovative, clean growth businesses, market-ready products and services through the Department of Business and Trade (DBT). Other Government departments and selected organisations will have the chance to host small side events or showcase their content (physical and digital) in the pavilion’s side room. These will match the UK’s Pavilion themes:
- Energy & Sector Transitions
- Resilience & Adaptation
- Forests & Nature
- Climate Finance
Space4Climate represented the UK Earth Observation community at COP26 with a large display in the Green Zone, the Space4Climate App of data visualisations and members’ case studies displayed on the PufferTouch in the Green Zone and in the Blue Zone on the UK Pavilion, and with members taking part in Blue Zone debates. This was also on display in the UK Pavilion at COP27 in Egypt with updated content. Follow Space4Climate on LinkedIn and on X (formerly Twitter) for updates on our COP28 activities.
