A new report on global space-related climate action efforts has been published today (November 9th 2022) to coincide with Earth Information Day at COP27.
‘International Efforts Using Space for Climate Action’ was prepared by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and UK Space Agency to map the landscape of key intergovernmental coordination organisations that use space technology to support global climate action. The initiative was announced at COP26 in Glasgow last year.
Scope to improve cooperation
The report says that more can be done to improve cooperation and coordination to benefit capacity-building for successful and sustainable short and long-term climate action, and it identifies gaps in information-sharing networks that it says could increase awareness, understanding and collaboration in the use of space for climate action.
As convenor of the UK climate data from space community, Space4Climate is actively building a growing network among UK actors in academia, industry and policy to support and promote the use of high-quality and trustworthy Earth Observation data.
Inspiring collaborative climate services
Space4Climate’s Climate Services Development Manager, Krupa Nanda Kumar, welcomed the report. She said: “The UK Earth Observation community plays a key role in scientific research and emerging technology to develop climate services. This report will further encourage and inspire collaboration between science, industry and government agencies to co-develop services for climate action based on reliable cutting-edge data and technology.
“Publication is timely as our members look forward to the new opportunities that the Space Climate Observatory will bring.”
“This report, which is a product of the UN and UK Government, broadens our horizons and helps us navigate the next steps to maximize benefits for everyone”
– UNOOSA Acting Director Niklas Hedman
Acting Director of UNOOSA Niklas Hedman said it was an important report: “Moving forward in climate action is not feasible without the fundamental and holistic overview of the current state of affairs. Enhancing our understanding of the stakeholder landscape allows us to generate valuable partnerships, reinforce efforts in areas with the best results, and deliver and develop services and solutions through well-informed decision-making. This report which is a product of the partnership between the UN and UK Government broadens our horizons and helps us navigate the next steps to maximize benefits for everyone.”
Space data plays increasing role
UK Space Agency CEO, Paul Bate, said: “We are delighted to be publishing this report at the time of COP27 since the imperative to find solutions to climate change is as strong as ever. Space data plays a vital and increasing role in the solutions being discussed globally and in so many different fora. Having a strategic view of how these international groups link together means we can focus our global effects and expertise in the most effective ways.”
The report is available to read online and to download here: https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/Space4SDGs/Space_for_Climate_Action_-ebook.pdf
