A new satellite, developed in partnership between France and the UK, will be Europe's first dedicated carbon dioxide monitoring satellite.
The satellite has been launched a Vega-C rocket from Kourou, French Guiana and will join the international greenhouse gas (GHG) virtual constellation of satellites.
The MicroCarb mission is backed by £15 million investment from the UK Space Agency and will orbit 650km above Earth, using city-scanning technology to map CO₂ emissions across urban areas at a 2km x 2km resolution.
The measurements from the satellite will help verify climate targets and guide net zero strategies, providing governments with the data needed to track progress toward the Paris Agreement and develop effective carbon reduction policies.
UK Minister for Space, Sir Chris Bryant, said: "This groundbreaking mission is proof of what can be achieved when we harness the strength of Britain’s burgeoning space industry, together with our deep scientific expertise. Bolstered with £15 million UK Government backing, the MicroCarb satellite will overhaul our ability to track carbon emissions – supporting the clean energy mission that’s key to this Government’s Plan for Change.
"It’s also further evidence of the value of our deep and unique relationship with France: a partnership which the Prime Minister reinforced, with President Macron, at the UK-France Summit earlier this month."
MicroCarb will monitor natural carbon sinks such as forests and oceans, enhancing scientific understanding of how much carbon is absorbed by the planet and where.
The satellite will also measure Solar Induced Fluorescence (SIF), a faint glow plants give off during photosynthesis. This will help scientists track how much carbon plants absorb, offering valuable insights into the carbon cycle, and supporting direct measurements of CO₂ in the atmosphere by helping to differentiate plant from anthropogenic CO₂ emissions.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: "Satellites like MicroCarb are our eyes in the sky. Over half of the critical data we use to understand climate change comes from space, and MicroCarb’s successful launch is a major leap forward in our ability to track carbon emissions and absorption with unprecedented accuracy, from the world’s cities to its forests and oceans.
"Backed by UK and French investment and expertise, it’s a proud moment for both our space sectors and a powerful example of international collaboration in action."
