Monitoring Greenhouse Gases from Space and the Kyoto Protocol
- Paper number
IAC-06-E6.3.04
- Author
Ms. Masami Onoda, Kyoto University, Japan
- Year
2006
- Abstract
In multilateral frameworks concerning climate change, there is an obligation for states to cooperate in research and systematic observation, of which today satellite Earth observation is an integral part. Based on such an agreement, several space programs have been initiated in order to respond to the international demands for objective and quantitative scientific information on climate change, especially as the 1997 Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol) has become an increasingly significant political agenda. Generally, it seems to be supported that satellite data will serve an important role in relation to the Kyoto Protocol. However, it is not clear in which legal context, and to what technical and political degree such information is to provide either monitoring, verification, or enforcement of State’s compliance to its provisions, or if this is simply an act to support general information exchange means. This also relates to the issue of how far, and in what manner scientific technology and information is to serve a role as the basis of States’ political decision-making. It should be an untrustworthy attitude if States resort to initiating space programs without contemplating through detailed studies on these issues. This paper will attempt to provide a specific analysis as to the legal aspects of Greenhouse gas monitoring by satellites in relation to the Kyoto Protocol. There exist technical limits to the information from satellites and also programmatic obstacles that prevent the efforts from providing information required, thus leading to the vagueness, or breadth of acknowledgement of its capabilities. By considering such limits in light of the specific supervisory techniques required by the legal framework, it should be possible to provide an objective analysis of the legal status of satellite Earth observation in the framework of the Protocol. Further, discussions will extend to the aspects of monitoring activities from space in the context of ‘International Control’ – would space activities provide means as International Control, and how is this different from that conducted on ground?
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E6.3.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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