Japan uses satellites to expand greenhouse gas tracking in Asia

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Nikkei Asia or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Japan is expanding its use of satellites to track greenhouse gas emissions across Asia, aiming to promote the adoption of its energy-saving technologies
• The Ibuki and Ibuki 2 satellites already monitor emissions in Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with plans to add Turkmenistan by 2026
• A new satellite, GOSAT-GW, launching in fiscal 2025, will provide even more detailed emission tracking

🔭 The context: Under the Paris Agreement, all countries must report greenhouse gas emissions biannually starting in 2024, increasing the demand for accurate data
• Japan’s satellites improve emission calculations by integrating satellite and ground-based data, refining estimates affected by weather and other factors
• The Environment Ministry plans to expand access to satellite data among Asian nations by 2027

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Enhanced satellite tracking can pressure developing nations to cut emissions, aiding global climate goals
• More precise data also prevents corporate greenwashing by verifying actual emissions across entire supply chains
• The initiative aligns with Japan’s push to promote low-emission technologies and equipment globally

⏭️ What's next: Japan will make Ibuki data freely available online through the Tellus platform by the end of the month, simplifying access for businesses and researchers
• The upcoming GOSAT-GW satellite will offer even more granular data, tracking emissions down to specific businesses or regions
• These advancements could boost demand for Japanese climate technology in global markets

💬 One quote: "We could improve the way we calculate emissions by using satellites to take measurements that account for weather conditions and other factors" — Masataka Watanabe, Professor at Chuo University

📈 One stat: Japan’s Ibuki 2 satellite monitors greenhouse gas emissions across five Central Asian nations, with Turkmenistan to be added by 2026

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