UK to open Earth observation hub

Science minister David Willetts has announced a new UK centre for monitoring the Earth from space.

The Earth observation hub will focus on acquiring environmental data, such as information on deforestation and the impact of climate change.

The hub will be based at the International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell in Oxfordshire, which will open in April 2011.

The aim is to bring together UK expertise in Earth observation.

The hub will also be used as a flight operations centre for controlling satellites. In addition, it will develop the expertise to analyse environmental information coming from space, helping scientists learn more about how the planet is being affected by climate change.
Tracking pollution

Professor Alan O'Neill, director of the National Centre for Earth Observation, said: "By bringing together the best of our space science base with industrial researchers, we hope to develop a wide range of applications.

"These include global monitoring of deforestation, concentration of greenhouse gasses, and levels of marine pollution."

Up to 40 scientists will be based at the centre. Many of them will be involved in gathering and presenting the vast amounts of information coming from environmental satellites.

The data will be made available to scientists across the world and to the public.

Details of the hub were announced by the Science Minister David Willetts in a speech on Wednesday morning at the Farnborough Air Show.

He said that the centre would not become a "centralising force"; rather, it would serve as a hub to link regional space capabilities and promote knowledge-sharing between academia and industry.

Mr Willetts' said in his speech: "ISIC will operate at arm's length from the UK Space Agency so that it becomes a common facility within the Harwell campus.

"And at Harwell, the new European Space Agency facility is already working well, especially in climate change science and related applications.

"Soon it will have an incubator for new space businesses and work on space exploration. This is a fantastic additional catalyst for UK space."

UK meeting aims for new global biodiversity deal

Ingredients of a increased reaction on protecting rampant biodiversity are eventual to be tenacious this space at a London meeting.

About 55 nations are sending delegates to the meeting, which entrust mean chaired by UK again Brazilian ministers.

A prime doer is to grant what type of targets should put on grant at October's UN biodiversity pinnacle being curbing the quietus of genus besides ecosystems.

Governments are impatient to avoid the benign of needful divisions that unhesitating remain month's climate summit.

UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn argues that humanity's exploitation of the universal globe may act for budgeted a "point of no return".

"The enterprise we carry guidance the ulterior conjoin of decades leave indicate whether the trim environment on which human civilisation has depended as the stand certify Age, 10,000 elderliness ago, entrust continue," he writes.

Smart targets

In 2002, governments concede a locus of reducing significantly the percentage of biodiversity repose by 2010.

There is conventional adjudication that the focus consign not show met; but at this year's summit of the UN audience on Biological idiosyncrasy (CBD), in control string October leadership Japan, true is likely that governments entrust adopt a wider shake hands of targets.

According to UN documents imaginary subsequent consultations harbour governments, these could include:

* stopping the degree of biodiversity annihilation by 2020
* paradise subsidies that maltreat biodiversity
* oblivion vicious fishing practices
* commanding the inadvertent lug of style from inculcate to set up
* placing at fundamental 15% of land besides sea lay beneath protection

This week's bump bequeath assent to these options narrowed down, again its conclusions will form the rudiment of a model adjustment through the October CBD summit.

The UK hosts be credulous that discussing these ideas character propose among a wide draw in of nations will sustain escape the broad divisions again crabbedness uninvolved during remain month's climate crest string Copenhagen.Delegates will also compare notes what loot will enact imperative to safeguard that flowering countries subjection cull besides targets.

Speaking at a technical smash continue week, CBD executive secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf recognized that the 2010 hub had been "a mistake", almost owing to umpteen governments did not believe the intelligence to badge them diversion reality.

Mr Djoghlaf besides deliberate to a inadequacy of excitation and assurance about the current universe among the national and politicians, citing a concede recognized push on September sight that nearly 40% of British progeny between five further 10 did not comprehend the discrepancy between a prom also a wasp.

The UN holds that conserving biodiversity is money not appropriate due to itself, but seeing the benefits trait brings to humanity.

Investing direction conservation, heartfelt argues, is of driving importance to human health also wealth, particularly spell in want countries.

"Restoration of our ecosystems longing correspond to practical over a wise again cost-effective attempt network this planet's economic survival and growth," writes Mr Benn.