The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet. Climate change impacts already underway in the Arctic have profound effects both within and beyond the region. As sea ice disappears, glaciers retreat, and permafrost melts, a range of challenges arise threatening local lives and livelihoods and offers a stark warning for the rest of the globe. From within these threats, however, opportunities emerge. New areas of economic activity and new forms of economic growth present themselves, with the potential to bring sustainable prosperity whilst striving for social goals. Space technologies are one powerful tool for unlocking these opportunities and tackling these challenges. The capabilities to monitor, communicate, and navigate from space offer unprecedented potential, especially in the remoteness of the Arctic. Their effective utilisation will require that governments, industries, scientists, and all areas of civil society are aligned and equipped with the tools and policies to make the most of what space can offer.

ESA has been working for the past 40 years to monitor and protect Earth through space. From the Sentinel missions, as well as the upcoming dedicated Arctic Weather Satellite ESA, together with its Member States, has elaborated a range of space programmes to monitor and protect the Arctic environment, its inhabitants and thus our planet. In the context of the Civil Security from Space Programme, the Space for a Green Future, the Rapid and Resilient Crisis Response, and the Protect initiative all contributing to accelerate the use of space, ESA is proud to continue enhancing its efforts.

The workshop, organised by the European Space Agency (ESA), together with Eurisy, the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), and Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) will bring together relevant actors from both space and a range of Arctic stakeholders (civil protection, critical infrastructure, resource exploration, and environmental and climate monitoring, protection of indigenous life, etc.) to discuss how space assets can further answer the specific needs of the Arctic. By establishing collaborative dialogue with users’ communities and industry as well as policy makers, the workshop builds on ESA actions for the Arctic Region and will inform future activities.

Join us in Tromsø, Norway, on 2-3 July 2024, for a 1.5 day interactive workshop, including guided visits to the growing local space ecosystem in the city.

Registration is by invite only and attendence is exclusively in-person.

For more information, contact: eurisy@eurisy.eu

Registrations are closed

ESA Space for Arctic Workshop