Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre joins Space Climate Observatory International

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has officially joined the Space Climate Observatory (SCO) International, a global consortium of space agencies and organisations led by The National Center for Space Studies (CNES).

The initiative to join the charter forms part of the cooperation between the UAE and France on future space endeavours.

According to the Dubai Media Office, in joining the SCO International, MBRSC has committed to sharing with the international space community information from the DMSat-1 satellite, Dubai Municipality’s first atmospheric monitoring satellite launched in 2021.

.@MBRSpaceCentre joins the Space Climate Observatory (SCO) International, a global consortium of space agencies & organisations that seeks to coordinate worldwide efforts to accurately monitor the impact of climate change.https://t.co/HrkP6A12Jv pic.twitter.com/7CdZwGCeLT

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 20, 2022

Using data from the satellite, Dubai Municipality has been actively promoting measures to protect the environment, thereby significantly raising Dubai’s profile as a global model for sustainable development.

Since its launch, DMSat-1 has played a key role in monitoring the UAE’s atmospheric aerosols and greenhouse gases and chemicals, substances that have influenced climate change across the world.

Salem AlMarri, director general of the MBRSC who signed the SCO’s charter said, “Our efforts will contribute to global efforts to monitor the impact of climate change, a critical issue that is vital to the sustainability of the planet and the survival of mankind.”

Read: Salem AlMarri appointed director general of UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

The development of DMSat-1 forms part of the UAE’s commitment to the terms of the Paris Climate Agreement, which calls for providing data on greenhouse gas emissions from signatory countries, as well as building national capacities in studying and analysing global warming.

The satellite’s launch and operations are part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and UAE Energy Strategy 2050. The data collected by the satellite will also contribute to the implementation of the national system for managing greenhouse gas emissions within the framework of the UAE National Plan for Climate Change 2017-2050.

Dawoud Al Hajri, director general of Dubai Municipality, concluded,“The satellite has deployed advanced monitoring techniques and mechanisms in the field of air quality assurance and the reduction of air environment pollutants. The nanometric satellite is now making vital strategic contributions on a global scale. We are pleased to share with the world the monitoring information obtained from the environmental satellite and other data for research.”