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From the air we breathe to the water we drink and the land we grow our food on, our ecological footprint and means to minimise it are more in the focus than ever. Innovative technological solutions, including space-based applications, can help to prevent pollution and reduce its negative impacts: from agriculture to transport. To mark the European Green Week 2021, which runs from 31 May to 4 June, we look at some of the contributions that space is making to a greener future.

This year, the European Green Week is dedicated to the ‘zero pollution ambition’ and looks at relevant European Green Deal initiatives, such as the climate initiatives, the upcoming Chemicals Strategy and #FitFor55 as well as initiatives in the fields of energy, industry, mobility, agriculture, fisheries, health and biodiversity. In all of these areas, EU Space is making a positive contribution.

Synergies are key

While both Copernicus and EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) are making a major contribution to reducing pollution individually, it is by tapping into synergies between these components of the EU Space Programme that we can make the most significant impact on the green transition. 

Read this: Space synergies serving the environment

In agriculture, for example, farmers can combine information on crop health and soil moisture provided by Copernicus with positioning services from Galileo and EGNOS in precision agriculture applications to use water, fertilizers and other resources where they are needed most. It is estimated that until 2025, the combination of EGNSS and Earth Observation services can help save 1.5 million tonnes of fertiliser (up to 20% in savings for users) and 4,500 tonnes of pesticides (up to 25% in savings for users) in Europe. 

An example of where EO and EGNSS are delivering environmental benefits is the FaST digital service platform, promoting the generation and re-use of solutions for sustainable and competitive agriculture. Meanwhile, the EGNSS4CAP app digitises the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reporting procedures. For example, automatic monitoring procedures employ services from both, Copernicus and Galileo and thus reduce the number of On the Spot Checks (OTSC). 

Space and the Green Deal

The EU is tackling the environmental challenges that Europe faces with the implementation of the Green Deal, a guiding document that paves the way towards a sustainable European economy. The EU Green Deal sets concrete targets not only to protect the environment but also to build a greener economy that manages the Earth’s resources in a sustainable way. Space is a key element of this initiative, providing services that help Europe reduce and adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects.

Watch this: EUSPA Space for our Planet Challenge 

Real-time and forecast information provided by Copernicus and precise positioning and navigation powered by Galileo and EGNOS, make it possible to predict and optimize traffic, enable efficient placement and maintenance of renewable energy infrastructure, support smart electricity grids, improve urban planning, and support the sharing economy. In sectors like transportation, until 2025, the EU Space Programme will help to save 15 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions (equal to 3 Kg of CO₂ per year saved by every EU citizen) and 3.5 billion litres of fuel (equal to 4.5 years’ worth of total EU demand for refined petroleum) in Europe.

The EU Space Programme directly supports over 20 Green Deal actions and has already helped to drastically bring down CO2 emissions and greatly reduce the EU’s carbon footprint. By supporting solutions and applications in the sectors mentioned above, along with countless other services and applications, space will play an increasingly important role in helping the EU to achieve its sustainability goals, building a green and prosperous future for Europe.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Over 20 European Union Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Mission visited the headquarters of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in Prague on May 26 to hear how the EU Space Programme is supporting European priority policies – from the Green deal to digital transition – and to learn about the Agency’s plans for the future.

Welcoming the distinguished guests, EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa said that the creation of the new European Union Agency for the Space Programme marked a new era for the EU in space. “Created by the recent publication of the Space Regulation, EUSPA is a user-driven operational agency for the implementation of the Space Programme. By working with the EU27 and with our institutional partners, EUSPA ensures that industry, SMEs, entrepreneurs and citizens know that EU Space is there to server their needs, enabling innovation, competitiveness and sustainability,” he said.

Common European determination

Addressing the guests, Jan Sechter, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic, noted the challenges ahead for the new Agency. “The upcoming period will be very demanding for the Agency, because it will have to manage the full transformation from GSA to EUSPA, which also means absorbing new tasks and responsibilities related to Earth observation, satellite telecommunication, space security, innovation and many others,” he said. Mr Sechter gave assurances that the Czech Republic, as the hosting state, stands ready to support the agency in the future.

Watch this: EUSPA welcomes EU Heads of Mission in the Czech Republic

That the EU Space Programme is a European cooperation success story was something that was noted by the guests. “The recently adopted European Space Programme legislation that expands the Agency’s tasks and responsibilities illustrates well a common European determination to work together on increasingly important global themes with such a strong strategic and security dimension,” said Dana Kovaříková, Head of the EC Representation in the Czech Republic.

During the visit, Bruno Vermeire, Chair of the EU Space Programme Security Accreditation Board, noted that “It is the ambition of the SAB to be the Security Accreditation Centre of Excellence for ALL the Space Components of the Union. Mitigating the cyberthreats and vulnerabilities and the security risks stemming from the supply chain has to a collective effort for all the stakeholders involved in the Union Space Programme. The close collaboration with the EU Member States is therefore essential.”.

Practical applications of space

The guests also received a presentation of some of the services and applications through which space is benefiting the lives of Europeans. EUSPA Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani noted that, from navigation, mapping and geo-marketing, to sports, mHealth and social networking Galileo is enhancing our daily lives and making us safer.

Diani also noted that synergies between the space programme components, particularly EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) and Copernicus Earth observation, are enabling a more sustainable agriculture, supporting applications from environmental management and variable rate application to livestock tracking and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Read this: EU Space on a new trajectory with launch of EUSPA

Looking to the future, the Head of Market Development outlined some key objectives within EUSPA, which include positioning EGNSS as a leader thanks to its differentiators, increasing Copernicus uptake by ‘other users’ including industry, SMEs and start-ups, building the GOVSATCOM connectivity user base and supporting the EU downstream industry, with a focus on SMEs and start-ups. 

The visit was well received by the guests. “The high point of the Portuguese Presidency (PPEU) in Prague and integral part of our Green and Digital Transition objectives, the visit to EUSPA was a great moment. Thank you Rodrigo da Costa, EUSPA Executive Director, and Dana Kovariková, Head of EC Representation in the Czech Republic,” said H.E Luís de Almeida Sampaio, Ambassador of Portugal to the Czech Republic.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

In one of its challenges in this year’s Galileo Masters, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is tasking all you bright minds with devising with an application that leverages satellite communications along with GNSS positioning and/or Earth observation (EO) to deliver solutions that meet societal needs. The deadline for submissions is 19 July – so you still have time to fine-tune your ideas. Join the EUSPA for Future Generations Challenges Webinar on 1 June for more information.

Secure connectivity is a new rapidly developing area. What’s more, combining positioning information and/or Earth observation data with reliable satellite communication services offers significant potential for the development of new market-oriented applications. It is precisely this potential that EUSPA wants to tap into with the SatCom Challenge in this year’s Competition. 

Satellite communication can provide essential telecommunication services, broadcasting services and data communications to users anywhere on the Earth, even when terrestrial means are unavailable. In the SatCom Challenge, participants are tasked with using SatCom along with high quality EO data from Copernicus and/or highly accurate GNSS positioning data from Galileo and/or EGNOS to deliver innovative solutions in a range of domains.

Watch this: The Galileo Masters 2021

Target domains could include transport, for example drones, maritime, autonomous driving, fleet and traffic management and so on, or low data-rate applications and the Internet of Things. Other possible areas include, but are not limited to, critical infrastructure monitoring, maritime and border surveillance and crisis management.

Information webinar

The SatCom Challenge is just one of the challenges that will be covered at a EUSPA webinar to be hosted at 11:00-12:00 on 1 June. Across its four challenges in this year’s Competition, EUSPA is looking for services, applications and business cases that use EGNSS (Galileo and EGNOS), either alone or in synergy with other space components, including Copernicus, to tackle important challenges faced by business and society. 

Read this: Welcome to the Space Crossroads, where space and great ideas meet

Join the Galileo Masters ‘EUSPA for future generations’ webinar and find out more about the four EUSPA Challenges: Space for Being Safe & Healthy, Space for Fun, Space for our Planet and the SatCom Challenge. Participants will have the opportunity to get insights on the challenges, learn about possible areas of application and put their questions to the experts. For a direct link to the webinar, click here.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to have all your questions answered and find the inspiration and encouragement you need to get your Galileo Masters ideas ready to submit by the July 19 deadline. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).