Philippines may use Copernicus data from ESA
Published on Thu, 02.02.2023 – 11:08 CET in Politics, covering ESAIn 1998, ESA and the European Commission launched the Copernicus Earth Observation Program. It became officially operational on April 1, 2012. The data collected by the satellites can be used and exploited free of charge by all citizens of an ESA member country. Now, ESA and the European Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippines that will allow the Southeast Asian island nation to use the data as well.
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Typhoons, floods, landslides and earthquakes regularly hit the island nation in the Pacific Ocean. In early 2022, the European Union committed more than €10 million for the next three years to support local climate change projects. The National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Program for the Philippines (CoPhil) also aims to help.
Koen Doens, Director General for International Partnerships at the European Commission (left) and Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA (right) with Pablito Mendoza, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the Kingdom of Belgium (back); © ESA (Philippe Sebirot).
European satellite data to solve global problems
The plan is to set up a so-called Copernicus "mirror". This will allow the Philippines to use European satellite data. ESA and the EU are providing a total of €7.3 million to launch the Copernicus program in the world's fifth largest island nation. The aim is to help reduce the country's vulnerability to climate hazards. It will also support climate adaptation, food security and environmental protection.
The agreement today is further testimony that we are committed to putting European space assets at the service of managing global issues, from climate to development policy. There is high potential for further expanding this collaboration in the future, in line with the EU Green Deal and Digital Agenda goals, which also aligns with the ESA Agenda 2025.
Josef Aschbacher, Director General ESA
The Department of Science and Technology of the Philippine Government and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) are the national partners for CopPhil. The CopPhil initiative is part of the EU's new Global Gateway Strategy. This is intended to promote the use of Copernicus data and information services. This in turn is expected to lead to better policy making, better planning, more transparency and engagement, and ultimately more accountability.
EarthCARE erforscht Wolken und Aerosole
Space for Inspiration 2024 - Jährliches B2B-Treffen der Raumfahrt-Visionäre
Space Creator Day 2023 Recap
European Heavy Lift Launcher Feasibility Study
ESA JUICE Mission Briefing
Controversy over cause of Vega-C launch failure (VV22)
ESA liberalizes use of its logo
ESA aims to completely prevent generation of space debris by 2030
IRIS2 – EU to set up its own satellite constellation
Slovakia becomes an associate member of ESA
ESA Director General appoints New Space Advisory Board
Ukraine war: Ice age in space or just Russian threatening gestures?
InCubed co-funding from ESA for OroraTech
NewSpace initiative founded
NASA launches DART mission
Council of Ministers adopts "Matosinhos Manifesto"
DcubeD wins Global Space Markets Challenge
DcubeD & EOMAP shortlisted for the ESA Global Space Markets Challenge
INNOspace Masters Award Ceremony
Calls for tenders within the Copernicus framework
Finalists of the EO Dashboard Hackathon announced
ESA and NASA: Together against climate change
EU invests 9 billion euros in ESA programs
ESA competition for internationalization of SMEs
Hackathon by NASA, ESA and JAXA
Asteroid Day 2021 - live ab 1. Juni
ESA searches for names for new mission via competition
Isar Aerospace wins microlauncher competition
