Join ESA webinars to discover space solutions to ocean problems
The ocean provides over half of the world’s oxygen. It absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere. It is not only a vital source of food, but also of ingredients in medicines that fight illnesses like cancer and heart disease. And it is also crucial for the economy – in Europe alone, the ‘blue economy’ employs 5.4 million people and is set to double by 2030.
Whilst ESA has been supporting the oceans and the blue economy for many years, the Agency’s Member States also have their own strategies and activities to safeguard the seas. Since 2019, ESA has been aligning these efforts through the ‘Blue Worlds Task Force’ – an initiative under the coordination of the Foresight, Strategy and Coordination Department that brings together specialists from across the Agency and ESA Member States, with the aim to provide space-based solutions to ocean-related problems.
The work of the Task Force is particularly relevant to the theme of this year’s World Oceans Day, ‘Revitalisation: Collective action for the ocean’.
There are no limitations to the topics which the Blue Worlds Task Force can address. It looks into all uses of space-supported navigation to identify the most efficient shipping routes for lower energy consumption, how to apply satellite surveillance to verify reductions in exhaust-gas pollution, how to enable the use of autonomous ships to reduce energy use for navigation and onboard systems and much more.
And now, with the support of the members of the Blue Worlds Task Force, ESA is organising two webinars which will take place in June, open to everyone.
They will include talks from industry experts on two specific subjects. The first webinar, on 21 June, will focus on ‘Safety and security in the oceans’ (webinar link), and will be devoted to issues related to how space can improve safety and security in the oceans.
The second webinar, on 23 June, will focus on ‘Space for a greener maritime future’ (webinar link), and discuss how space can make oceans greener and more sustainable.
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