Egypt to announce launching climate monitoring satellite during COP27

Egyptian Space Committee of the Syndicate of Engineers has unveiled Egypt’s plans to launch two new satellites, one of which will assist in climate change monitoring in Africa, ahead of country’s preparations to host COP27 next week.

“The second is a plasma satellite that will monitor the climate properties in the upper layers of the atmosphere,” said the Committee’s chairman, Ahmed Farag.

Farag added the launch of the satellites aims to monitor the phenomena of desertification, the increase in carbon emissions, water vapor and wind speed in Africa.

The announcement will disclose in the lead-up to the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference, which Egypt will be hosting in Sharm El Sheikh from 6-18 November.

Satellites’ image quality ratios could observe fine and full details up to 30 centimeters, said Yahya Mohesb, Professor of Computer and Communications Engineering at AAST, noting the country’s intention to reach 10 centimeters soon.

He also noted that Egypt’s 2030 strategy aims for close contact with achieving sustainable development, which rely heavily on accurate information and data that are monitored and followed up with satellite technology.

Farag made the disclosure during the Egyptian Space Committee of the Syndicate of Engineers’ recently concluded conference on Egypt’s efforts to develop its space capabilities.

The conference’s purpose was to “determine the role of satellites in monitoring climate changes and temperature differences, using specialised satellites with sensors capable of providing details of climate change in the coming years.”