Today's Edition
SHOROUQ AWAD (DUBAI)
Salem Al Marri, Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, emphasised that space sciences and the use of space technology and satellites offer tremendous capabilities in terms of monitoring weather fluctuations and understanding the major effects of climate change.
Data and information obtained from space are a powerful tool with which to tackle the environmental and climate challenges the world is facing, Al Marri said, noting that space is an ideal platform for combatting the challenges of climate change. In an interview with Aletihad, Al Marri said that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre uses satellite technologies and artificial intelligence to monitor and follow various indicators of climate change, accelerating the process of collecting vast and diverse amounts of data from different parts of the world, then analysing them in real-time and predicting long-term trends.
Initiatives like the UAE’s Mars exploration mission also contribute to this endeavour through studying other planets and analysing their atmospheres. The centre also studies the evolution of climatic conditions and estimates the potential consequences of change, which provides decision-makers with the precise data necessary to take effective steps towards sustainable practices that reduce the harmful impacts of climate change and ensure a sustainable future for upcoming generations.
Regarding the UAE’s hosting of the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), Al Marri pointed out that the country’s vision is to enhance collaborative partnerships and joint efforts with countries around the world. The UAE’s hosting of the conference is part of these efforts, and the country aims to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including environmental conservation, confronting climate change, and strengthening international relations.
The significance of this event as an opportunity to invite international partners to cooperate to ensure the future of the coming generations cannot be overlooked, with the UAE leading the efforts to achieve this goal, continuing the journey of the founding leader, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in supporting environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Sustainable FutureAl Marri pointed out that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is committed to building a sustainable future by employing space technology to enhance sustainable development on Earth. It also aims to ensure the continuity of space activities and research, indicating that the centre’s current and future initiatives will significantly address global sustainability challenges through innovative solutions and effective international cooperation. He clarified that the centre pays great attention to enhancing its role in advancing progress towards environmental protection and promoting sustainable development.
This is evident through its significant contributions to the International Space Observatory for Climate, where it works to boost global efforts to monitor the effects of climate change. The centre also provides important data through the DMSat-1 satellite, which was launched in cooperation with Dubai Municipality in 2021.
The satellite plays a crucial role in monitoring greenhouse gases, chemicals, and atmospheric dust in the UAE’s atmosphere, enhancing our understanding of climate change impacts and efforts to mitigate these effects. Experiments in Space“During his approximately six-month stay on the International Space Station, Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi conducted over 200 diverse experiments covering multiple topics.
Among these areas, he showed a keen interest in continuously observing and studying the Earth, providing him a unique opportunity to monitor and analyse various natural phenomena, such as hurricanes, storms, forest fires, and others. He also notably participated in experiments on fluidics, aimed at studying fluid disturbances in space,” Al Marri said. “This type of research significantly contributes to expanding our knowledge about Earth’s oceans and the complex climate system affecting the planet. Furthermore, his research included plant biology, deepening our understanding of plant growth processes and foundations.
This will play a vital role in understanding the effects of climate changes on plants and the environment in general,” he added. Unique AchievementsAl Marri confirmed that the UAE and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre have made significant progress in the space sector under the wise leadership of the country, adding that the nation has distinguished itself as a leader in the Arab region with its accomplishments in space exploration.
He pointed out that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre plays a pivotal role in developing programmes, such as the UAE’s Astronaut Programme, in addition to projects that reflect the UAE’s commitment to excellence in space science and its use to support sustainable development.
Among the most notable are the UAE’s Mars Exploration project and the UAE’s Lunar Exploration project. As for the main objectives of the “Space Observatory for Climate” initiative, Al Marri said: “By participating in the observatory, which is a global union that includes space agencies under the supervision of the National Centre for Space Studies, we enhance our role and commitment to sustainable development.
Through the exchange of DMSat-1 data with the global space community, we contribute to spreading knowledge globally, which aids the journey of environmental protection, achieving sustainable development, and ensuring the sustainability of the space sector in general.” He added: “The observatory offers the opportunity to exchange information about space applications, share discoveries, tools, and technologies related to space exploration technology. The goal of the UAE is to enhance and achieve common goals in this sector among countries.
The observatory is also a platform to enhance cooperation between space agencies, government bodies, national, regional, and international organisations, in addition to academic institutions, research institutions, and the private sector.”
He emphasised that the centre has more than 250 specialists in a variety of leading sectors and has developed more than five satellites internally. Some have been launched, while others, like the satellite, MBZ-SAT, which is set to be one of the most advanced satellites in the region in the field of high-resolution satellite imaging, are scheduled to be launched in 2024.
The centre uses satellite technology to monitor climate change Salem Al Marri COP28 is an opportunity for cooperation towards a better future for the coming generations Enhancing global efforts to monitor climatic impacts and track urgent environmental challenges Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi focused on monitoring and continuously studying the Earth.
