At the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, a groundbreaking initiative was launched uniting space and maritime stakeholders in the name of ocean preservation…
The Space for a Warmer Ocean Alliance, spearheaded by France’s national space agency CNES, aims to bridge the gap between satellite technology and ocean conservation efforts, a connection long underutilized despite its vast potential.
Held at the Nice Observatory, the event highlighted how space technologies, such as satellite data, can provide critical insights for tracking pollution, monitoring coastal erosion, and mapping marine ecosystems. The alliance encourages collaboration between scientists, governments, and industry leaders to translate this data into operational tools for those most affected by climate change, especially small island nations.
A declaration of interest was signed by key organisations, including space agencies from Monaco, France, the Maldives, and Norway, along with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. Monaco’s longstanding commitment to marine conservation made its involvement a natural fit, further strengthened by its cooperation with French partners.
The goal is to turn satellite information into concrete services tailored to regional needs, combining remote data with on-the-ground findings and digital models. This new framework promotes co-development at the local level, enabling more responsive and resilient strategies for ocean protection.
The declaration will be formally presented to Peter Thompson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, on June 13. As this ambitious alliance gathers momentum, it represents a promising new frontier, where space technology is harnessed not for exploration alone, but in service of protecting Earth’s most vital and vulnerable ecosystem.
Photo by Alexander Grey
