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Objectives
This project aims to provide a holistic assessment of the contribution of the Satcom industry to global sustainable development, considering economical, societal and environmental aspects. From this assessment the study shall investigate less environmentally damaging mission and technology solutions, and propose business opportunities for new Satcom systems to enable sustainable developments.
Challenges
Satellite communications can result in positive and negative impacts on important environmental, social and economic outcomes. Understanding the nature of, and tradeoffs between, these issues is increasingly important, including due to global and European policies that seek to balance these outcomes (e.g. pursuing low-carbon economic growth). It can inform future approaches to minimising negative impacts while enhancing beneficial ones, and therefore shape commercial approaches to developing the contribution of Satcom to sustainable development.
Plan
The following will be carried out over the nine months of the project:
- Assess frameworks of sustainable development issues and identify ways of measuring and the most material issues to Satcom, informed by understanding of relevant users and architectures of Satcom systems;
- Develop an assessment of the impact of Satcom on sustainable development, and from this identify techniques to reduce negative environmental impacts in the development of Satcom systems, and value chains for opportunities to enable further positive impacts;
- Interpret the future implications of this analysis for the development of Satcom, including in relation to future policies and technological developments.
The planned work schedule for the project is illustrated in the figure below.
Current Status
Dissemination of this study’s results to relevant stakeholders needs to build on an awareness of the extent of SD knowledge within the Satcom sector. Similarities with ICT mean it makes sense for the Satcom industry to become more involved with ICT related SD.
