"Europe's Space Chief Urges Political Commitment to Climate Action"

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, has warned against wavering political commitment to combating climate change in Europe, citing record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires as evidence of the urgency. Aschbacher emphasized the need to mitigate the effects of climate change, stating that it remains the biggest threat to the planet and humankind. He called for immediate action based on "crystal clear" evidence, including satellite measurements, of the recent heat emergency in southern Europe. Aschbacher also highlighted the funding gap for the Copernicus satellite program, which monitors vital climate parameters, and urged for a funding decision by June 2024 to ensure uninterrupted development of the next set of Sentinel satellites.