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Satellites to help safeguard sustainability of palm oil, with launch of UK and Mexico project
February 23, 2021 By Editor
UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP) and Ecometrica’s Forests 2020 Platform fuel industry initiative
Edinburgh/Mexico City, 23 February 2021 – The long-term sustainability of Mexican palm oil production has been given a major boost with the announcement that FEMEXPALMA, the association of Mexican palm oil producers, will use satellites to monitor and safeguard sustainable land use practices, including the protection of forests and biodiversity.
Global palm oil production reached record heights in 2020, but concerns remain over its environmental, economic and social impact. As part of its commitment to promote effective climate action, the UK finances and supports local projects with global impact.
Date Time
UNOSAT in 2020: a year in review
Geneva, Switzerland – 2020 was a year of both challenges and accomplishments for UNITAR-UNOSAT. Our mapping teams delivered 1,136 products and services based on over 300 analyses to partners in 59 countries, with an emphasis on Sub-Saharan and Northern Africa & Western and South-Eastern Asia, but also Latin America and the Caribbean. Much of the data produced was used to assess exposure to and impact of hazards, but also to generate potential flood scenarios for refugee camp planning, assess damages, conduct sectoral analyses, and more. Throughout the year we also successfully designed and implemented several capacity development activities: UNITAR-UNOSAT delivered 16 learning-related events in 2020 to 471 beneficiaries consisting mostly of government officials, 6 of which were web-based and 10 of which took place face-to-face (4 in the Pacific, 4 in Africa, 2 in Asia). Themes included Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) applications
International Partnership Programme
The International Partnership Programme (IPP) is a 5 year, £152 million programme run by the UK Space Agency. IPP uses the UK Space sector’s research and innovation strengths to deliver a sustainable, economic or societal benefit to undeveloped nations and developing economies. IPP is funded from the BEIS Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). As GCRF forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) ring-fenced budget, IPP is required to be fully ODA compliant and will be delivered in line with the UN sustainability goals.
IPP is running a call for proposals to select 1 successful bid (that can include multiple organisations) to deliver a “satellite-enabled data services public policy course”.