Nothing beats a round-table discussion for encouraging ideas and motivation: SCO France came together for a webinar on 1 July 2020. No fewer than 93 participants logged in to listen closely to the presentations on projects in progress before dividing into four workshops to exchange ideas and plan future projects.
The plan was to meet in Vienna at the same time as COPUOS, but due to the health crisis, they went for a virtual discussion instead. With 34 representatives connecting simultaneously, SCO International members held their third steering committee meeting under the aegis of UNOOSA, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Its Director, Simonetta di Pippo, opened the session by paying tribute to the high level of engagement of this new global community. An insider's view of 18 and 19 June 2020 when, for 90 minutes each day across all continents, the partners analysed progress and planned the next steps
With SCO International now established, its local branches are structuring themselves around pilot projects. The objective: to demonstrate to local authorities the effectiveness of SCO projects for implementing adaptive policies.
Clearly committed to getting its operations under way quickly, the SCO met again for a second international steering committee meeting on 15 January 2020 in Abu Dhabi.
In accordance with the roadmap agreed upon at its first steering committee meeting, for the new space climate observatory to become a reality, national branches need to be established for each of its signatories. A way for everyone to bring together their best and brightest working on the impacts of climate change.
The establishment of the SCO in just 18 months is an international achievement in itself. As far as the founding space agencies are concerned, there is no question of giving up on this commitment.
This is a true story of international action being taken in the face of the reality of climate change. As specialists in Earth satellite monitoring, space agencies are backing an initiative to create the tools necessary for countries to adapt to the reality of climate change.
Despite the agenda being significantly affected by the Covid crisis, the SCO's motivation is unwavering. Using digital resources, the SCO organised an international online meeting on 15 May 2020 to both strengthen the ties uniting this community and prepare for the third steering committee meeting.
