The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Role of Satellites in Data Collections and Observations

Future predictions of climate change indicate that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere will increase and many of the changes are irreversible. Even if greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are ceased, many parts of climate change and its effects will last for generations. With increasing temperature, there is a greater chance of sudden or permanent changes. The complimentary tactics of adaptation and mitigation can be used to lessen and manage the hazards associated with climate change. Significant emissions reductions over the coming decades can lower the risks associated with climate change, improve the chances of successful adaptation, lower the long-term costs and difficulties associated with mitigation, and support climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development. Recently, several significant and well-publicized initiatives have brought attention to the necessity of developing indicators that gauge global efforts to mitigate climate change. As technology advances, more Earth observation (EO) data must be collected to provide information useful for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The advent of high-performance computing and the information revolution are making it possible to stimulate the Earth system’s evolution realistically at unprecedented scales. When evaluating the long-term cost-effectiveness of any agreed-upon policy initiatives, EO data will be crucial in light of shifts in the major environmental indicators. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that governments and the commercial sector are required to make educated decisions that can be obtained through dependable space-based observations. The chapter explores how the use of satellite-based remote sensing can contribute to the enhanced use of space technology to address relevant needs identified under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The chapter also delves into how international space laws and national space policies can work towards combating climate change.