New horizons for Earth observation: Adapting our Societies to the Impacts of Climate Change

Day: Tuesday 20 September
Time: 09:00 - 10:00 CEST
Location: Room Paris South, Level 3, Hall 7, Paris Convention Centre

The urgency of tackling climate change has become one of the greatest challenges for mankind. The contributions of Earth Observation satellites have proved to be a formidable stepping stone, allowing to accurately understand and monitor our planet, assess climate variables and depict change. However, despite the accessibility of satellite data and the interest raised by these prospects, a bridge has yet to be built to allow local decision-makers and the wider audience to make the most of these approaches for adaptation to climate change.

The Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) is a unique initiative to support the emergence of projects enabling climate adaptation at a local level. As an international network of space agencies and public and private entities, the SCO develops projects built upon existing cloud computing infrastructures and satellite data for adaptation – from extreme events management to biodiversity monitoring –, using new methodologies and providing operational tools directly to the users. These tools are co-designed to answer specific needs and to allow the wide audience to leverage satellite data. The projects can besides be readily modified to suit other geographic areas facing similar environmental stakes.

The objective of this plenary is to discuss the best way to enable collaboration between research institutions, public entities and the private sector to work towards wider adaptation thanks to Earth observation, and to find the most promising solutions for local, satellite-based adaptation by exploring SCO’s concrete activities and achievements.

Panellists will bring their own perspective on the topic and on international data and coordination issues, coming from widely different geographic area and sectors. In addition to space agencies that each face specific challenges depending on the national infrastructures and environmental situations, the panel will include presentations from actual projects.

Moderator

Laurence MONNOYER-SMITH

Head of Sustainable Development, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES)

France

Speakers

Simonetta CHELI

Director of Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN, European Space Agency (ESA)

Italy

Amal LAYACHI

Head of Capacity Building Department, Centre Royal de Télédétection Spatiale

Morocco

Stéphane MERMOZ

Researcher (CESBIO), Founder, GlobEO

France

Nancy OLIVETO

Founder, Societe Generale D'Evaluation Des Territoires (SGEvT)

France

Rosa Maria RAMIREZ DE ARELLANO Y HARO

Head of International Affairs, Agencia Espacial Mexicana (AEM)

Mexico

Shereen ZORBA

Head of Secretariat, UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment

Kenya