As COP28 quickly approaches, the attention of the business community, activists, and policymakers once again shifts toward the climate crisis and the urgent need for effective solutions.
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are at their highest in 4.5 million years—forecast to be 420 parts per million (ppm) in 2023. Fueling this trend, NASA and international scientists concluded that carbon dioxide emissions were the highest on record in 2022. The second largest contributor to human-caused global warming, methane, is a greenhouse gas 80 times more powerful at warming the planet than carbon dioxide; it is also seeing record annual increases in atmospheric levels.
There are seemingly infinite statistics to demonstrate the severity and urgency of the climate crisis. But, while the data is troubling, we thankfully have a growing toolbox to use in this fight.
In the last ten years, direct measurements of emissions from facilities around the world has become possible using a new generation of satellites. When the Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 countries in 2015, the world largely relied on estimates – typically one or two years old. The world now benefits from direct measurements by satellites rather than estimates – only a few days or weeks old. This transformational capability now enables industrial emitters, policymakers, scientists and other stakeholders to understand that estimates were significantly understated, and that some of the largest estimated sources were actually not the largest measured sources. In short, the world can now focus on investment much more efficiently to achieve the impact we all need.
GHGSat has been on the front lines of this transformation since we launched our first satellite in 2016. Every day, our satellites measure methane emissions from industrial point-sources worldwide. We currently have eight satellites in orbit which together have already measured over 1M facilities in the first half of 2023 alone. We are preparing to launch later this year three additional instruments, including the world’s first commercial instrument dedicated to measuring carbon dioxide emissions. In the last two years alone, measurements from our satellites have helped industrial emitters to mitigate over 5.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions – equivalent to taking more than 1.2 million cars off the road for a year.
But the world is only beginning to fully harness the potential of satellite measurements.
Earlier this summer, as the first company to make the leap from research and development to the operational deployment of satellites at scale, GHGSat was invited to participate in the White House’s first-ever Methane Summit. With the Summit and the establishment of a new Cabinet-level Methane Task Force, a whole-of-government approach to advancing methane leak detection and data transparency was announced by the Biden-Harris Administration. By prioritizing emissions detection using satellites both domestically and internationally, the U.S. government can demonstrate global leadership in the fight against climate change.
GHGSat detected more than 5000-super emitting events and over 179 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of methane in 2022 alone. Mitigating emissions is critical – now more than ever. This should be top-of-mind as we enter COP28. The stakes aren't only environmental; national security is on the line too. The climate crisis acts as a threat multiplier, intensifying existing tensions around resources, migration, and global stability. Global emissions are a strategic leading indicator for forecasting flashpoints and emerging threats resulting from climate change.
The Pledges and Commitments are in place, and the time for action has come. With the technologies to drive measurable impact within our reach, it would be irresponsible to not use them. As COP28 sparks discussions and encourages action across the globe, satellite measurement must be used as part of our toolkit to the fullest extent. It is critical that the nation’s decisionmakers pursue and leverage robust monitoring and verification systems, like emission measurement satellites, to help accurately assess the impact of greenhouse gasses in a timely manner, ultimately leading to efficient mitigation initiatives.
Stephane Germain is the Founder and CEO of GHGSat
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