The status and development proposal of carbon sources and sinks monitoring satellite system

Abstract

In order to mitigate global warming, the international communities actively explore low-carbon and green development methods. According to the Paris Agreement that came into effect in 2016, there will be a global stocktaking plan to carry out every 5 years from 2023 onwards. In September 2020, China proposed a "double carbon" target of carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. Achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals requires accurate carbon emissions and carbon absorptions. China's existing carbon monitoring methods have insufficient detection accuracy, low spatial resolution, and narrow swath, which are difficult to meet the monitoring requirement of carbon sources and sinks monitoring. In order to meet the needs of carbon stocktaking and support the monitoring and supervision of carbon sources and sinks, it is recommended to make full use of the foundation of the existing satellites, improve the detection technical specifications of carbon sources and sinks monitoring measures, and build a multi-means and comprehensive, LEO-GEO orbit carbon monitoring satellite system to achieve higher precision, higher resolution and multi-dimensional carbon monitoring. On this basis, it is recommended to strengthen international cooperation, improve data sharing policy, actively participate in the development of carbon retrieval algorithm and the setting of international carbon monitoring standards, establish an independent and controllable global carbon monitoring and evaluation system, and contribute China's strength to the global realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.