The Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) is an international initiative to make the best use of satellite data and digital technologies for climate action. The SCO gathers public and private entities involved in Earth Observation (EO). It coordinates international efforts to support the emergence of operational tools for climate monitoring, mitigation and adaptation. The initiative has 32 signatories bringing together 23 space agencies and international organisations and counting. Space4Climate is the official SCO coordination point for the UK Space Agency, running UK calls for SCO-compliant climate projects, services and products from UK applicants, within the guidelines set out by the international SCO.
Objectives
The SCO supports the development of operational tools addressed to decision-makers and the wider audience, to fully leverage the potential of satellite data together with socio-economic data in helping towards climate monitoring, mitigation and adaptation at the local scale. These tools must be co-designed with their end-users to answer specific needs, and should be easily modified to be adapted to other geographic areas facing similar climate stakes. When an EO climate service has a SCO-compliant label, it is an assurance that the project has been assessed as meeting the SCO values.
For further details on SCO please visit the official website at https://www.spaceclimateobservatory.org/
SCO UK projects
The SCO currently has 57 labelled projects in its portfolio, in all regions of the world, on all subjects relating to climate change (agriculture, urban planning, biodiversity, coastal issues, etc.). Through UK calls for projects, run by Space4Climate, SCO UK will spotlight eligible UK-developed projects through global events and programmes via the SCO initiative. International calls are also issued, which Space4Climate publicises within the UK space sector.
Follow Space4Climate’s LinkedIn page for notifications of when the next application window for UK projects is open.
Benefits of the SCO mark of quality
- Put your climate projects and products in front of an international audience of policy decision-makers, public sector and private operational users
- Feature on the SCO website of international climate services, products and projects
- Access to UK SCO promotional activities, such as webinars
- Inclusion in UK SCO promotional events and UK stands at national and international events, exhibitions and conferences
- Be part of an international network focussed on meeting the need for quality climate services based on quality climate data from space.
Important information about the SCO initiative:
- SCO is not a funding body and SCO focal points will not provide funding towards the time and effort to support promotional activities of SCO labelled projects.
- Due to the transparent nature of SCO projects it is a requirement to share relevant project outcomes and impact results for marketing and communication purposes when required. All IP resides with the owner.
For any clarifications on the submission process please email space4climate@reading.ac.uk .