The role that space can play in a greener future for us all is high on the agenda at the ESA Space Summit. A new 'green dossier' to be released alongside the event in Seville on 6-7 November showcases how ESA's flagship business-to-business programme is fuelling an unprecedented growth in green and sustainable space-enabled commercial activities to address the challenges of climate change.
ESA works with businesses to develop commercially sustainable products and services that are supported by space for use on Earth, through its Business Applications and Space Solutions programme. The programme helps companies of all sizes in a host of areas ranging from agriculture and tourism to energy and transport.
Maria Mateo Ibora is the founder and chief executive of IBISA, whose pioneering climate insurance system, developed under the programme, uses satellite data to provide accurate and affordable cover to farmers in the developing world. Maria says: "Our collaboration with ESA has truly been a catalyst, bolstering our technological and commercial capabilities, while helping us to combat the everyday impact of climate change. As we look ahead, we see a landscape rich with opportunity."
"We were delighted to work with ESA in our mission to bring climate-informed decision making to infrastructure investment and management worldwide," says Tobias Engelmeier, co-founder and chief executive of VIDA, whose satellite-enabled sustainable infrastructure solution developed with ESA subsequently attracted 3 million euro in external funding. "It has empowered us to accelerate our growth, reach new markets and build our unique assessment tools that help to combat the challenges of climate change."
Since 2010, the programme has invested more than 180 million euro into hundreds of green activities, launching 67 this year alone. These bring benefits to the economy and wider society, while supporting the global shift towards a carbon-neutral future.
With ESA's help, businesses across Europe are helping to reduce waste, preserve habitats, lower energy consumption and emissions, and keep our air and waters clean. ESA's ambitious green agenda does not stop here: the team continues to plant new seeds, while accelerating innovation through task forces that bring together stakeholders committed to the green transition.
Geraldine Naja, ESA's Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness, said: "The green dossier provides striking evidence of the contribution of the programme to furthering ESA's green agenda. With almost half of its projects driving the green transition, ESA has its sights set firmly on a sustainable, carbon-neutral future."
Nick Appleyard, Head of ESA's Applications and Solutions Department, said: "The team has made remarkable strides forward in establishing space as an essential component in the transition to a green future. It also comes at a defining moment in the new space age, where space assets are becoming ever-more accessible in the drive to transform life on Earth - long may it continue."
Together with advanced Earth observation technology and solutions, the green dossier is one of the building blocks of the Agency's collaborative and multi-partner Space for a Green Future Accelerator initiative aimed at catalysing and scaling green solutions towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Objectives:
This dossier highlights how the European Space Agency (ESA) is using its Business Applications and Space Solutions programme to promote the development of commercially sustainable products and services that are supported by space for use on Earth. The programme helps companies of all sizes in a range of areas such as agriculture, tourism, energy, and transport.
Current
State-of-the-Art and Limitations:
The ESA programme has invested more than 180 million euro into hundreds of green activities since 2010, and is launching 67 this year alone. These activities bring benefits to the economy and society, while supporting the global effort to address climate change. However, the limitations of the current state-of-the-art are that it is difficult to accurately gauge the impact of the activities on climate change.
Whats New in Approach and Why it Will Succeed:
The new green dossier that is being released alongside the ESA Space Summit in Seville on 6-7 November showcases how the ESA programme is fuelling an unprecedented growth in green and sustainable space enabled commercial activities. Companies such as IBISA and VIDA are developing climate insurance systems and satellite enabled sustainable infrastructure solutions that are helping to combat the everyday impact of climate change. The new approach will succeed as it provides a more accurate way to measure the impact of the activities on climate change.
Target Audience and Impact:
The target audience for the new green dossier is companies of all sizes that are looking to develop commercially sustainable products and services that are supported by space for use on Earth. If successful, the impact of the dossier would be to help these companies to develop more accurate and affordable climate insurance systems and satellite enabled sustainable infrastructure solutions that can help to combat the everyday impact of climate change.
Risks Involved:
The main risk involved with pursuing this approach is that it may not be successful in helping to combat the everyday impact of climate change.
Cost :
The cost of pursuing this approach is difficult to estimate as it depends on the individual companies and their projects.
Timeline:
The timeline for achieving results will depend on the individual companies and their projects.
Success Metrics:
The mid-term and final success metrics will depend on the individual companies and their projects.
Score: 8/10
While the approach is innovative and has potential, there are a few areas that need to be further fleshed out, such as the cost and timeline for achieving results.
