Leaders in climate action were at Stormont yesterday (Thursday 3rd October) for the UK launch of World Space Week. Running from October 4th – October 10th, World Space Week will showcase the pioneering ways that climate change is being tackled using information from space and UK expertise.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘Space and Climate Change’ and current examples from around the UK of innovative climate action achievements and ambitions will be featured. A particular focus will be how UK Space Agency-funded Regional Space Clusters – including Northern Ireland – are working with local authorities to use data from space to address urgent climate issues.
Prof Helen McCarthy, Chief Scientific and Technical Adviser for Northern Ireland, carried out the official UK launch of World Space Week, which will showcase events and activities from around the globe.
The launch was organised by the Northern Ireland Space Cluster, National Centre for Earth Observation, and Space4Climate.
Robert Hill, Chair for Matrix NI Science & Industry Panel and Manager of the NI Space Cluster, said: “Space provides us with a unique perspective from which to observe and monitor our changing climate. Northern Ireland government, academia and industry is working together to better understand how we can realise a more sustainable future. However, this is a global endeavour, and as such, we must act together collaboratively and globally to ensure an environmentally sustainable future for all.”
UK science and businesses are at the forefront of Earth Observation – gathering, analysing and applying information from satellites that image the Earth to study and monitor the impacts of climate change, much of which can only be measured from space.
Speakers at the launch event demonstrated the thriving space climate sector across the UK, investment in infrastructure for space innovation and the extent of successful regional, European and global collaborations. As well as Prof McCarthy, attendees included:
- Andrew Stanniland, CEO Thales Alenia Space UK
- Rico Santiago, Head of Business Development, Ordnance Survey for Northern Ireland
- Susanne Mecklenburg, Head of Division for Climate and Long-Term Action, European Space Agency
- Professor John Remedios, Director, National Centre for Earth Observation
- Rebecca Corey, Earth Observation Data Lead, UK Space Agency
A key message from the event was opportunities – including funding and investment initiatives – for the take-up of trustworthy data from space for commercial applications, novel climate products and informed climate decisions and climate action. In the audience was also data suppliers, funders, investors, policymakers, industry leaders and climate entrepreneurs.