Notes on Copernicus Programme and Environmental Management

Introduction

• Overwhelming environmental challenges: global warming, overpopulation, overconsumption, depletion of natural resources.
• Importance of managing consumption and utilizing natural resources to protect the environment.

Copernicus Programme

• Purpose: Observe the environment and collect, store, analyze data to make effective decisions.
• Collaboration: Involvement of different stakeholders in the European Union.
• Function: Monitors the planet and ecosystems, prepares and protects inhabitants from crises and disasters.

Data Collection

• Uses a constellation of six families of satellites (Sentinels) and third-party satellites (Contributing Space Missions).
• Combination of satellite data with sensors on seas, land, and air.
• Provides reliable, up-to-date information about the planet’s status.

Types of Products

• Generates various products like statistics and topographic maps.
• Analyzes data to produce indicators for researchers and end-users, reflecting past, present, and future trends.

Accessibility

• Offers full, free, and open access to all collected data.
• Users include scientists, policy makers, entrepreneurs, and ordinary citizens.

Copernicus Services

• Six interrelated themes:
  • Atmosphere monitoring
  • Marine environment monitoring
  • Land monitoring
  • Climate change
  • Emergency management
  • Security

Environmental Monitoring

• Analyzes atmospheric composition, biodiversity, and aerosols affecting the ozone layer.
• Evaluates melting polar ice caps due to global warming.
• Monitors air and water quality impacting health.
• Tracks ocean levels, coastal areas, and forests to mitigate disaster risks.

Renewable Energy

• Promotes hydraulic and wind power as eco-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels.
• Goal: Renewable energy to comprise 27% of total energy consumption by 2030.

Border Security and Pollution

• Monitors EU external borders using space data for risk assessment.
• Tracks marine pollution and its effects on ecosystems and fishing industry.

Agricultural Management

• Warns of deforestation and desertification to prevent biodiversity loss and food shortages.
• Oversees irrigation and crop monitoring for better food management.

Health and Safety

• Traces disease outbreaks (e.g., Ebola in West Africa).

Economic Impact

• Copernicus supports various sectors: tourism, urban development, archaeology, oil and gas, insurance.
• Potential job creation: Nearly 48,000 jobs by 2030 from Copernicus applications.
• High return on investment from satellite technology.

Conclusion

• Copernicus is a powerful, evolving tool, open to all and free to use.
• Encourages new applications, opportunities, markets, and jobs.
• Promotes awareness of environmental health and supports the global fight against environmental challenges.