NASA created a new center that will be dedicated to measuring the impact of climate change caused by human activity. The institution, specifically, will measure the emission of polluting gases that cause the greenhouse effect that warm the planet. The US space agency made the announcement during COP28, the United Nations climate change summit being held this year in Dubai.
“NASA data is essential to making the changes needed on the ground to protect our climate,” NASA leader Bill Nelson said last week in announcing the creation of the US Greenhouse Gas Center. Nelson explained that the main objective is to promote the dissemination of key data that contributes to the adoption of measures to stop climate change.
NASA is leading the project along with other US government agencies. Among them, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Officials, non-profit organizations and companies will be able to access computer models that monitor changes in greenhouse gases and emissionsNASA explained in a statement.
“We are working to get the right data into the hands of people who can use it to manage and track greenhouse gas emissions,” Argyro Kavvada, program director for the center at NASA Headquarters in Washington. A database on emissions in the United States and the rest of the world is now available on the center’s website.
NASA aims to obtain more data on climate change
On the website there is information about how human activities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Also, where natural greenhouse gases originate and data associated with methane emissions.
Global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, mostly caused by burning fossil fuels, will hit a record this year, according to preliminary report from Global Carbon Budget published last week. Countries are expected to issue a total of 40.9 billion tons of CO₂ in 2023. It is an increase of 1.1% compared to 2022, details the report prepared by scientists from more than 90 institutions.
Tomorrow COP28 will end, the most important global meeting to discuss actions on climate change. It remains to be seen whether the meeting will reach an agreement to reduce the emission of polluting gases that corresponds to the objectives established in the Paris Agreement.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported last week that 2023 will definitely be the hottest year in history. A drastic reduction is needed. The world needs to reduce emissions by 28% by 2030. This would prevent global warming from exceeding 2°C since the pre-industrial era.