The Space for Climate Observatory: an international alliance promoting the use of Earth Observation-based services to empower local administrators in reaching territorial resilience to climate change
- Paper number
GLOC-2023,T,IP,x74942
- Author
Dr. Frédéric BRETAR, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Coauthor
Prof. Laurence Monnoyer-Smith, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Coauthor
Ms. Sara Toffoletti, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Coauthor
Ms. Célie Losada, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Coauthor
Ms. Auriane Giorgalla, CNES, France
- Coauthor
Ms. Karol Barthelemy, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Year
2023
- Abstract
Despite the worldwide significance of Earth observation to better understand Earth’s climate and the flourishing number of dedicated satellites resulting in readily available data, it remains difficult to fully leverage their potential for operational applications. Moreover, regardless of the emergence of such applications in many parts of the world, the lack of international coordination makes it difficult to have a clear overview of the existing solutions and to make available proven solutions to climate-related policy makers. In summary, while international coordination on EO data sharing and scientific use is well established, cooperation on operational applications, notably at a local level and including the private sector as a main actor, remains less mature. To make up for these shortcomings, the Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) was officially launched in 2019. 34 space agencies and international organizations have joined the SCO so far with the ambition to coordinate international efforts to support the emergence and the dissemination of operational tools for climate monitoring, mitigation and adaptation specifically addressing the needs of local decision-makers and of the wide public. These tools strive to provide capabilities for societal climate-related actions by making the best use of satellite data coupled with socio-economic and environmental data. There are currently 57 projects in the SCO portfolio located into 28 countries, covering various thematic areas including agriculture, water management, biodiversity etc. More than 250 institutions are directly involved in SCO projects, coming from industry, public entities and scientific institutes. This presentation will anchor the SCO in the landscape of international organisations and initiatives. It will emphasise the complementarity of approaches to societal valorisation of research for the monitoring of our environment, but also the necessary involvement of private service providers to meet the operational needs of local decision-makers.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
GLOC-2023,T,IP,x74942.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.