United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs: Forging inclusive international collaborations and capacity-building in climate action

Paper number

GLOC-2023,T,5,1,x75311

Author

Ms. Xing Yi Ang, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Austria

Coauthor

Mr. Ching Wei Sooi, UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, Austria

Coauthor

Ms. Nathalie RICARD, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Austria

Coauthor

Mr. Markus Woltran, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Austria

Year

2023

Abstract

Since the inception of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, the number of actors employing space-based solutions in climate action has increased, as well as, the diversity of these space services, on all levels: international, regional, and local. Such change prompted the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to map existing international efforts using space technologies to support climate action, and to integrate dedicated training on space applications for climate action within its portfolio of capacity-building activities.

The presentation aspires to contribute to topic 5: ‘An Outer Space Perspective on Climate Change’ by sharing the insights and key takeaways of activities carried out in 2022.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) jointly with the United Kingdom produced a report mapping leading international organisations that use space technologies and service to address climate adaptation, mitigation monitoring, and resilience. The main aim of the map was to support decision makers by revealing cooperation opportunities, as well as growth areas. In the mapping exercise, current climate action policies and coordination mechanism were explored, outlining collaboration dynamic in different domains where space-borne solutions are used for climate action.

The method of the mapping exercise concentrated on establishing key actors on global Climate Action scenery, their objectives, and relationship among them. All actors were classified by the roles defined in the Framework convention: policy coordination, scientific assessment, systemic observation, and climate services - to support climate change monitoring, mitigation, adaptation, and/or resilience.

Moreover, UNOOSA developed a website with the support of the Austrian government that strives to bridge the gap in collaboration and coordination of Climate Action globally, as well as to serve as a central node for information on trainings and other Climate Action opportunities and news. 

For instance, UNOOSA organised the 2022 UN/Austria Symposium on the theme of "Space for climate action: experiences and best practices in mitigating and adapting to climate change and supporting sustainability on Earth". As a capacity builder, UNOOSA partnered with space agencies and international organizations to provide in addition five online training courses under two broad themes: sustainable space engineering practices, and Earth Observation data for climate action. These courses enhanced participants' capabilities to use space applications and provided methodologies for climate action, besides connecting participants to resources and subject matter experts.

Abstract document

GLOC-2023,T,5,1,x75311.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

GLOC-2023,T,5,1,x75311.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.