The role of Climate-Smart Natural Resource Management

The UK committee on climate change (CCC) was formed in 2008 as an independent non government body. Formed to advise the UK and devolved governments on tackling and preparing for climate change.

This week, in letters to the Prime Minister and First Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Committee on Climate Change sets out six key principles to rebuild the nation following the COVID-19 pandemic whilst delivering a stronger, cleaner and more resilient economy. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change are integral to the UK’s recovery package, the committee says.

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"The CCC recommendation for serious investment into the thematic areas of climate-smart, low carbon, clean energy sectors is therefore very encouraging to hear for all involved."

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On 6th May 2020, the CCC published their recommendations in a letter for six key principles to a resilient recovery.

• Use climate investments to support economic recovery and jobs.

• Lead a shift towards positive, long-term behaviours.

• Tackle the wider ‘resilience deficit’ on climate change.

• Embed fairness as a core principle.

• Ensure the recovery does not lock-in greenhouse gas emissions or increased risk.

• Strengthen incentives to reduce emissions when considering tax changes.

How can Climate-Smart Natural Resource Management contribute?

It starts with access to good information about the condition, health and capacity of ecological and natural resources. If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.

For some time, the satellite earth observation industry has been designing and building solutions to capture, monitor, measure and evaluate how habitats, natural resources, weather patterns, air quality levels and ecosystems are performing. Their behaviour and performance are indicators of climate change.

There are many talented companies in the earth observation sector who offer climate-smart, low carbon, clean energy solutions. However, until now many of the innovative, entrepreneurial SMEs who can help carve a path out of this crisis have been unable to achieve the attention, support or adequate funding to make the necessary impact.

While the satellite data collection and analytical technologies have existed for some time, there has been a lack of investment into the sector globally. Stories abound within the sector of Innovation efforts being under-estimated, expectations of over-night success stories and unrealistic investment returns have led to feasibility studies and pilots understandably falling short of expectations. With this announcement by the CCC, it has been made clear a new and determined effort has to be made into real long-term investment in the sector which will help support the realisation of the six key principles. The CCC recommendation for serious investment into the thematic areas of climate-smart, low carbon, clean energy sectors is therefore very encouraging to hear for all involved.

At GSI, we have been concentrating on building collaborations and alliances with fellow specialists in the satellite industry, environmental biometricians, forestry, agronomy, biological regeneration, iOT sensors, robotics, data science, academic communities, service providers and the beneficiaries of the intelligence- in government, NGO and private sectors.

We believe only with real collaborations across the world with like-minded and determined partners with the subject-matter excellence and experience, will it be possible to decelerate the pace of climate change. We believe we have to invest in the future. That means looking for partners, collaborators and investors willing to build a new and more sustainable future where there is an increase in quality of life, environmental affairs and a viable low carbon economy. We're ready to get started. Are you?