The EU and the global fight against climate change : the role of earth observation satellites

Abstract

Climate change, brought about by man-made activities, is having negative impacts on nature, the economy, to and society as a whole. To assist in understanding the extent of climate change consequences and possible interventions, the European Union is using orbiting earth observation satellites which systematically collect data, measure, monitor and photograph our planet. This type of data collection is considered to be more precise and is believed to support more comprehensively policy making when drafting and implementing policy. This dissertation seeks to understand how the European Union space policy helps in combatting climate change, specifically by using earth observation satellites. This is done by adopting a qualitative methodology, specifically through undertaking a content analysis of the European Parliament debates, and EU legislation, with the aim of assessing how and to what extent of the European Union is actively using Earth Observation Satellites to monitor and address the impacts of climate change. The results of this study show that, despite general efforts made by the European Institutions to utilize earth observation satellites, the commitment by the EU to use such satellite technologies to fight climate change is still in its infancy.