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European Space Agency releases new strategy for Earth observation

The European Space Agency (ESA) has released its new Earth Observation Science Strategy, Earth Science in Action for Tomorrow's World. Responding to the escalating threats from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and extreme weather and the need to take action to address these threats, this forward-looking strategy outlines a bold vision for Earth science through to 2040.

By leveraging advanced satellite-based monitoring of our planet, ESA aims to provide critical data and knowledge to guide action and policy for a more sustainable future.

ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, said, "As a space agency, it is our duty to harness the unique power of Earth observing technology to inform the critical decisions that will shape our future.

"Our new Earth Observation Science Strategy underscores a science-first approach where satellite technology provides data that contributes to our collective understanding of the Earth system as a whole, so that solutions can be found to address global environmental challenges. The choices we make today help create a more sustainable world and propel the transformation towards a resilient, thriving global society."

The new strategy presents a bold and ambitious vision for the future of ESA's Earth Observation Programmes. It shifts focus towards understanding the feedbacks and interconnections within the Earth system, rather than targeting specific Earth system domains.