Satellites, SIDS, and Sustainability

Without space, we would not know nearly as much about our need to act against climate change as we currently do. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increases, there has never been more of a need for this type of information.

This is particularly true for people of Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. Despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, small island nation developing states are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. With around one-third of the population living less than five metres above sea level, rising waters are forcing communities from their ancestral homes, as land and lives are lost to the effects of climate change.

Recognising the need to act, the UK Space Agency funded IPP CommonSensing project has created a tool to support these nations and assist decision-makers in their efforts. Through the CommonSensing platform, map-based evidence can be used to navigate the complex funding landscape, resilience and relocation efforts, disaster risk reduction, and enhanced food security.

Visit the CommonSensing website >>

Our host Sarah Cruddas is joined virtually from Fiji by Leba Gaunavinaka from UNOSAT and Katherine Cooke from The Commonwealth; and from the UK, Richard Oates from Spatial Days and the Satellite Applications Catapult, and Nathan Woodley, also from the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Website
CommonSensing: Twitter, Website
UNITAR-UNOSAT: UNITAR Twitter, UNOSAT Twitter, LinkedIn, Website
The Commonwealth: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Website

Spatial Days: LinkedIn, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.