Gyeonggi Province to Launch 'Climate Satellite' in U.S. This November, a First for Local Governments

Gyeonggi Province will launch a climate satellite in the United States next month.

On October 8, Gyeonggi Province announced that it plans to launch the "Gyeonggi Climate Satellite 1 (GYEONGGISat-1)" from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, in November. The specific launch date is still being coordinated. As an optical satellite, GYEONGGISat-1 will orbit in low Earth orbit for three years, collecting precise climate and environmental data for the Gyeonggi region.

The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite project was initiated after Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dongyeon announced it as one of his key priorities for the latter half of his term during a press conference in August last year.

In October of the same year, Gyeonggi Province established the basic plan for the project and, between February and March of this year, publicly recruited organizations for satellite development and operation. The satellite was completed in July, and final procedures such as the payload flight test were carried out in September.

Gyeonggi Province is the first local government in South Korea to independently pursue a satellite project for climate response. The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite project consists of one optical satellite and two greenhouse gas observation satellites. After launch, the satellites will be used for precise monitoring of land use status, identification and estimation of greenhouse gas (methane) emission sources and volumes, and monitoring of climate disaster damage such as floods, wildfires, and landslides.

Gyeonggi Province expects the climate satellite to have a significant policy impact, particularly in advancing climate policy, responding to regulations, fostering industry, and promoting international cooperation.

Gyeonggi Climate Satellite 1 (GYEONGGISat-1)

First, the satellite data will be observed, collected, and analyzed to closely monitor major greenhouse gas emission sources within the province, and will be used to develop scientific climate policies for Gyeonggi Province and its cities and counties. In connection with the Gyeonggi Climate Platform, a "Gyeonggi Province Greenhouse Gas Observation Map" will be created. It will also enable the monitoring of methane venting and leakage points and emissions in specific areas such as industrial complexes within the province. Other key roles include monitoring the impact of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture and livestock sectors, as well as supporting disaster and emergency monitoring and response.

Through these efforts, Gyeonggi Province expects to help local small and medium-sized enterprises measure and reduce their carbon emissions, thereby responding to the strengthening of global carbon regulations such as the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "We are also considering opening and sharing climate satellite data with the private sector to discover climate tech startups in the province and foster industry. As the space industry-a field that is still largely unexplored-inevitably grows, we also plan to promote international exchanges in climate policy and industry going forward."