One-to-one with Space4Climate
Can you introduce yourself and explain your role at Space4Climate and within the Space for Climate Observatory SCO? Krupa Nanda Kumar: I am Krupa Nanda Kumar, Climate Services Development Manager for Space4Climate. Space4Climate is the membership organisation for the UK Earth Observation for climate community and also the UK focal point for SCO, on behalf of the UK Space Agency, since 2022. |
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What has been the UK’s contribution to the SCO so far and how are submissions evaluated for accreditation?
K.N.K: The UK has so far accredited two innovative climate services for the international Space for Climate Observatory and we are keen to see many more both through international application windows and UK-focused calls for submissions. The Space4Climate Board plays a crucial role in this process. They kindly give of their time and expertise to scrutinise each submission to ensure that successful projects and climate services meet the highest standards of applications of reliable and trustworthy space-based data in meaningful ways.
Can you tell us more about the two accredited projects?
K.N.K: Absolutely. The first is Space4Nature, a collaboration that developed a way of using satellite imagery in combination with other data sources to reconnect fragmented wildlife habitats. The second is Strata, a tool developed with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to use satellite data with other sources to direct resources to where help is most needed in areas of overlapping environmental and climate-related stresses, conflict, insecurity and socio-economic vulnerability.
How do these projects address climate challenges?
K.N.K: Although very different, both projects show that EO data can be put to use with other data sources to make a direct and practical improvement and have met their objectives of addressing climate challenges in specific areas. Space4Nature improves biodiversity and natural cascading benefits for local human communities as well as wildlife, while Strata has direct benefits for vulnerable people and improves efficiency and good use of resources for UNEP.
How do you work together on these projects?
K.N.K: Collaboration has been key to both projects. Space4Nature brought together researchers from the University of Surrey, Surrey Wildlife, Buglife, the Painshill Park Trust and citizen scientists to use a combination of Earth Observation and AI to monitor and improve habitats. Strata was a collaboration of expertise from Scotland-based business Earth Blox, UNEP, and the University of Edinburgh.
How does this collaborative approach reflect the mission of Space4Climate and SCO?
K.N.K: Working in partnership across business, academia, NGOs and those living in/working with the affected communities, illustrates the collaborative approach of the Space for Climate Observatory and its aims of using space-based climate data to address and alleviate real-world problems at practical levels. It also reflects Space4Climate’s mission to convene the UK’s EO academic, industry and policy expertise and to promote the commercialisation and take up of climate services.
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Space4Climate is a not-for-profit membership organisation for the UK Earth Observation for climate action community, bringing together climate research, academia, industry and policy. Space4Climate supports and promotes trustworthy climate data and climate services to underpin space-enabled products for climate action and climate decisions. On behalf of the UK Space Agency, Space4Climate issues and processes national opportunities for climate projects and services to apply to join SCO.