Earth Observation Strategy Announced by Canada
The Canadian government has announced a satellite earth observation strategy, including an investment of $8 million (Canadian), focused on climate change.
"Satellites offer valuable information that can change our lives for the better here on Earth. This strategy is designed to provide useful and precise information on our planet to inform the Government's decisions and empower Canadian businesses – big and small – to innovate and take on the real, tangible challenges we face in our day-to-day lives like climate change, forest fires and floods."
The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
Satellites provide a unique perspective of the planet, support cutting-edge science, and enable applications and services in many areas critical to the health and well-being of Canadians. For 60 years, Canadian experts have been using satellites to monitor our environment from space.
The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, have announced the release of Resourceful, Resilient, Ready: Canada's Strategy for Satellite Earth Observation, which describes how Canada will take full advantage of the unique vantage point of space to address climate change and other key challenges of our time.
Minister Champagne and Parliamentary Secretary Dabrusin also announced the investment of $8 million (Can.) in 21 organizations across Canada to advance innovative applications that focus on Earth observation challenges and sustainable development priorities. The funding will be delivered through the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA's) smartEarth initiative, designed to challenge Canadian organizations to solve issues using satellite data and help solve tangible problems we face on Earth.
The effects of climate change in Canada are affecting our day-to-day lives with the rising number of floods, droughts and wildfires, as well as melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels. The information we need to study the climate, like methane and carbon dioxide emissions, and changes to sea ice, can be gathered by satellites more effectively than ever before. Today, data from satellites has become critical to taking action on and adapting to climate change.
"Satellites offer valuable information that can change our lives for the better here on Earth. This strategy is designed to provide useful and precise information on our planet to inform the Government's decisions and empower Canadian businesses – big and small – to innovate and take on the real, tangible challenges we face in our day-to-day lives like climate change, forest fires and floods," said Minister Champagne.
"The data we gather from space about greenhouse gas emissions, weather patterns, and ice coverage in our North, is key to effective climate action. In order to be effective in tackling climate change, we must harness the power of space technology to properly identify and measure sources of emissions," said The Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
The global satellite Earth observation market is estimated at $3.3 billion (US) and expected to grow to $7.2 billion over the next decade. The new strategy aims to help Canadian space firms capture an increased share of this global market. The CSA funding initiative smartEarth promotes the development of innovative applications through the use of satellite data to help meet various needs on Earth, while enhancing Canada's space sector expertise and growth.
(Source: Canadian Space Agency news release)