Side-event Conference
June 11, 1pm
"Satellites and Climate change: Tools for characterizing climate change, helping societies and fostering adaptation"
Context
The 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) will take place in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015. Its aim is to adopt a universal, sustainable, dynamic and legally-binding agreement to enter into force in 2020, with a view to limit global warming to below 2°C and ensure societies' adaptation to existing climate changes.
Space sector's contribution to this major international endeavor cannot be overstated. Suffice it to say that among the 50 parameters defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), 26 can only be measured from outer space. A global and permanent observation of Earth from satellites is therefore indispensable to characterize climate evolutions and elaborate appropriate response thereto. It is also the reason why a major meeting is scheduled to take place in Mexico in September 2015 to gather the heads of space agencies worldwide, with a view to elaborate a common contribution of these agencies to the COP 21.
In this context, on the occasion of the 58
th session of COPUOS, a side-event conference on " Satellites and Climate change: tools for characterizing climate change, helping societies and fostering adaptation " was organised.
Object and purpose
The side-event was opened by representatives of the « troïka » of the UNFCCC COP presidencies, namely Peru (COP 20), France (COP 21) and Morocco (COP 22). Mr Thierry DUQUESNE Director for Strategy, Programmes and International Relations (CNES) then presented in broad terms how space can contribute to understanding global warming, helping societies to adapt to its consequences. Ms Simonetta DI PIPPO, Director of UNOOSA, gave an outline of the initiatives and ambitions of the Office in this area for 2015, before the floor was given to the representatives of several space agencies (from Europe, Japan, India, China and the United States) who offered thier views on how space contributes to achieving the objectives set forth in the UNFCCC.
Schedule of interventions
Introduction
Mr Edgard Arturo PEREZ ALVAN, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of Peru (COP20)
H.E. Mrs. Marion PARADAS, Perm. Rep. of France (COP21)
Mr Mohammed SLAOUI, Dep. Perm. Rep. of Morocco (COP22)
Interventions
CNES (France), Mr Thierry DUQUESNE, Director for Strategy, Programmes and International Relations of CNES
UNOOSA, Mrs Simonetta DI PIPPO - Director of UNOOSA
DLR (Germany), Dr. Christiane LECHTENBORGER (DLR)
ESA
EU, Petr Havlik - First Counsellor (EU)
JAXA (Japan), Dr.Yasushi HORIKAWA, JAXA Technical Counselor
ISRO (India), Dr VK DADHWAL - Head of the Delegation of ISRO to COPUOS and Director of NRSC
NASA/NOAA (USA), Ms. Margaret KIEFFER (NASA) and Mr Mark MULHOLLAND (NOAA)
CNSA (China), Dr. Prof. LIU Jian (National Satellite Meteorological Center,CMA)
Conclusion
Mrs Pascale ULTRE-GUERARD (CNES, France)
The side-event was followed by a reception for all delegates of COPUOS.
