Satellite Imagery Analysis Firm Launches Free Greenhouse Gas Tracker

Kayrros, a French provider of satellite imagery analysis, has unveiled a complimentary version of its global methane tracking map on November 29. The aim is to empower the public in holding governments and businesses accountable for their emissions. Leveraging data from the European Space Agency Sentinel-5P satellite and the International Space Station sensor, the platform delivers daily snapshots of methane, a significant contributor to global warming.

The map identifies 5,645 methane super-emitters globally, characterized by a notably higher emission rate. Of these, 3,320 are linked to oil and gas, 874 to coal, and 1,451 to waste and agriculture. Notably, the Amman landfill in Jordan is flagged as a major emitter, producing an amount of greenhouse gas equivalent to 450,000 cars annually, despite European Union investments for improved gas capture and electricity generation.

Kayrros advocates for an outright ban on super-emitters, asserting that swift reductions in methane emissions from fossil fuels alone could match the impact of removing all cars and trucks from the roads. Addressing major methane emissions is posited as a relatively straightforward method to combat climate change, according to Antoine Rostand, Kayrros president and co-founder.

The release of the methane map coincides with the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, taking place in Dubai between Nov. 30 and Dec. 12. Rostand emphasizes the heightened public awareness and interest in methane reduction, aligning with COP28 focus on the issue.

Kayrros also provides access to satellite data through commercial agreements, offering more detailed analyses in paid studies focusing on countries, cities, and individual fields. The United Nations Environment Program International Methane Emissions Observatory is among the entities utilizing Kayrros satellite imagery analysis.

Satellite-based tracking of greenhouse gas emissions, involving companies like Canada GHGSat, is seen as a tool to enable scrutiny by institutions, businesses, and investors of emissions reporting. This aligns with the trend of businesses voluntarily disclosing emissions as part of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures, aiming to attract investors and customers.

The public availability of Kayrros methane tracking map is positioned to support efforts in verifying these reports, addressing concerns of greenwashing that have hindered the progress of the ESG movement. Bogdan Gogulan, CEO of NewSpace Capital, a private equity firm and investor in Kayrros, urges diplomats at COP28 to showcase how empirical data will be utilized to drive growth, investment, and financial instruments supporting climate and sustainability technologies. Gogulan emphasizes the importance of precise, traceable, and auditable data for effective climate action, fostering accountability and responsibility. Investors are keenly interested in actionable outcomes from COP28, particularly in the realm of ESG, according to Gogulan.