Space has become a crucial front in the fight against climate change, with satellites that can track industrial pollution and monitor hurricane movements. This has led to increased cooperation between public space agencies and private companies around the world.
One of the most fruitful areas of collaboration is the tracking of greenhouse gas emissions. A satellite of the Copernicus mission, part of the European Union’s space program, regularly monitors methane, a potent gas that contributes to global warming. However, the resolution of this satellite is limited, making it difficult to pinpoint the precise location of emission sources. This is where private companies come into play.
The Canadian company GHGSat has nine small satellites in orbit, the size of a microwave oven. These satellites fly over oil and gas fields, looking for methane leaks. By operating at lower altitudes, they can observe each location in detail. GHGSat sells this information to major oil companies such as Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. Other companies, such as Absolut Sensing and Kayrros, are also planning to enter the sector and are using existing satellite data, such as that provided by Copernicus, to locate major leaks.
These public-private partnerships are proving to be effective, as they allow for a broader and more detailed view of problems and provide valuable information to stakeholders. However, government satellite constellations remain the backbone of the Earth observation system, although space agencies are also advancing new missions to measure carbon dioxide released by human activities and other relevant aspects.
In addition to monitoring greenhouse gases, weather satellites play a vital role in collecting data on global climate systems. These data are fundamental to understanding climate change and improving scientific models. In addition, satellites can assist in climate change adaptation by providing better forecasts and aiding in natural disaster mitigation.
Overall, it is expected that today’s satellite technologies, if adopted more broadly, can reduce carbon emissions by 5.5 gigatons, significantly exceeding current reductions of 1.5 gigatons. These technologies can be particularly useful in sectors such as aviation and maritime navigation by optimizing travel, mapping weather routes, and managing air traffic control to decarbonize these industries.