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Europe’s top space official, Josef Aschbacher, has appealed to wavering politicians not to abandon European leadership in combatting climate change. Aschbacher, the director general of the European Space Agency (ESA) and an expert on environmental observation, stressed the urgency of the situation, pointing to the evidence of global warming in the form of record heatwaves and vegetation fires.

Countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal have recently experienced extreme temperatures and wildfires. July was reported as having the highest global average temperature ever recorded by the World Meteorological Organization. Aschbacher described this as alarming and emphasized that climate change remains the largest threat to our planet and to humankind.

Aschbacher, who previously oversaw the flagship Earth observation satellite activities including Copernicus, ESA’s largest environmental monitoring effort, highlighted the importance of taking immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change. He argued that the long-term costs of inaction would be far higher than the investments required now.

However, amidst concerns over the cost of achieving net-zero emissions, some governments may be tempted to reconsider their commitments. Aschbacher called on politicians to heed the “crystal clear” evidence, including satellite measurements, of the recent heat emergency in southern Europe. He warned that failing to act swiftly would result in severe damage that would be much more difficult and expensive to address later.

Aschbacher also addressed the funding challenges facing the Copernicus program, which involves a series of satellites designed to monitor various climate parameters. A funding gap of 721 million euros has arisen due to the partial loss of UK contributions following Brexit. Aschbacher emphasized the need for a funding decision by June 2024 to ensure the uninterrupted development of new Sentinel satellites. Failure to meet this deadline would have significant consequences for Europe’s commitment to combating climate change and would undermine its leadership on climate issues.

In conclusion, Aschbacher stressed the importance of maintaining Europe’s position as a leader in climate change efforts. The evidence of climate change is undeniable, and urgent action is needed to mitigate its effects and secure a sustainable future for our planet.

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