Space-age technology is increasingly being utilized to hold polluting industries accountable for their contributions to climate change. GHGSat’s data is now available for sale to industrial emitters, governments, and scientists who seek to reduce emissions.

Vanguard, a new satellite, will augment the existing network of satellites that detect plumes of methane, an invisible greenhouse gas that is difficult to identify due to its leakage from various small sources such as pipelines, drill sites, and farms.

Currently, carbon dioxide is responsible for nearly 80% of US greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, with major industrial sources like power plants being the primary contributors. However, current satellite monitoring of carbon dioxide emissions does not focus on facility-level emissions.

The data collected by Vanguard will play a crucial role in substantiating the standard practice of monitoring and measuring carbon dioxide emissions. Stephane Germain, CEO of GHGSat, notes that having direct satellite measurements of entire facilities will act as a validation alongside the existing mix of direct measurements and estimates.

Satellites have already revealed that methane emissions are significantly higher than previously estimated. Germain suspects that the same is true for carbon dioxide emissions.

The information provided by Vanguard will greatly enhance the accuracy of government emissions inventories and scientific modeling. Additionally, it will improve the quality of corporate greenhouse gas reporting for investors.

By utilizing space-age technology, GHGSat aims to create a more accountable and environmentally sustainable future.