Space Sustainability Roadmap Published by Scotland
Scotland’s space industry has declared its commitment to reducing its impact on the environment through the publication of a new space sustainability roadmap, the first of its kind.
"Scotland’s space industry has enormous growth potential and is rightly recognized as a key new market opportunity within the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation." Business Minister Ivan McKee.
The new space sustainability roadmap sets out the steps needed to achieve the long-term goals of Scottish space missions, which are to be space debris neutral, zero emissions created from on-the-ground activities, and for Scotland to gain global recognition as a leader in sustainable space.
National and international expert interviews, in-depth study into other sustainability initiatives and consultation with the space industry informed the roadmap contents, which addresses areas such as the environmental impacts of building, fuelling, and launching satellites, as well as the importance of promoting satellite data for environmental monitoring.
"Scotland’s space industry has enormous growth potential and is rightly recognized as a key new market opportunity within the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation," said Business Minister Ivan McKee. "Last year, the Scottish Government and partners set out our collective ambition for Scotland to become Europe’s leading space nation, taking a £4 billion (≈$4.62 billion) share of the global space market and creating 20,000 jobs by 2030."
Space Sustainability Roadmap Key to Combating Climate Change
“The Scottish Government recognizes the key role of space in the global fight against climate change. The Scottish space sector shares this collective responsibility and is already innovating through the use of greener fuels, lightweight materials, smart design and reusability. The Scottish Space Sustainability Roadmap is the next step in helping the sector reach net zero by 2045 and in setting an example for other nations," McKee continued.
“These are exactly the kind of actions necessary to help boost productivity, create sustainable jobs and position Scotland in the vanguard of responsible users of space across every part of the industry.”
Developed in collaboration with Space Scotland’s Environmental Task Force and funded by Scottish Enterprise, the roadmap for Scotland's space industry has been produced by space strategy firm AstroAgency in partnership with Glasgow-based Optimat.
"It’s almost a year since Glasgow hosted COP26, where world leaders gathered to address climate change and the global action needed," said Jane Martin, managing director at Scottish Enterprise. "This roadmap represents another historic moment in our journey towards net zero and is further proof of Scotland’s commitment to take positive environmental action.
“By working together, industry, academia and the public sector can find solutions to the worldwide challenge of making space more sustainable, helping to protect the Earth and space for future generations.”
(Images provided with Scottish Enterprises news release. Pictured (left to right): Kristina Tamane, Space Sector Business Development Lead at University of Edinburgh and Space Scotland Environmental Task Force Co-Chair; Jane Martin, managing director at Scottish Enterprise; Business Minister Ivan McKee; Dr Ashley Stewart, Optimat; Daniel Smith, AstroAgency and Space Scotland Environmental Task Force Co-Chair)