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Since the first satellite to provide measurements of Earth’s atmospheric temperatures was launched in 1969, space assets have been increasingly key for climate monitoring – and today, for climate action. Earth observation data has been central to the formulation of the scientific consensus on the nature and magnitude of climate change. More than half of the Essential Climate Variables (characterizing Earth’s climate) can be monitored from space and help inform mitigation strategies.
Meanwhile, space-enabled capabilities such as satellite communications and geo-spatial positioning are helping adapt and become resilient to climate change. Applications of space research and cutting-edge technologies developed for space exploration are also diffusing into society and industries, and offer new means for action.
As more and more actors get involved and projects get started to provide space-enabled climate services, there is a growing need for awareness-raising, information-sharing and coordination to realize the full potential of these capabilities.
Space4ClimateAction
Space4Climate Action is an initiative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to promote the use of space technologies and applications to support climate action (Sustainable Development Goal 13).
Vision
As part of its efforts to support Climate Action, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is maintaining this website dedicated to informing on the use of space-based capabilities for climate action and orienting towards adequate actors and resources.
The Space4Climate Action website offers capacity-building resources targeted to everyone – citizens, organizations, companies, universities, policymakers or experts – to inform your own strategy development or research and gain a more complete understanding of the current efforts.
SDG 13
Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) urges to take action to combat climate change and its impacts. Climate change is affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives.
Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, and weather events are becoming more extreme. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and are continuing to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history.
Without action, the world's average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to surpass 3ºC this century.
UNOOSA
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the utilization of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.
The Office assists any United Nations Member States to establish legal and regulatory frameworks to govern space activities and strengthens the capacity of developing countries to use space science technology and applications for development by helping to integrate space capabilities into national development programmes.