Azercosmos held joint event with the Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations and Azercosmos organized joint event titled “The Role of Geospatial Information in Enhancing Climate Action in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”. This event, held within the framework of COP29, highlighted the important role of satellite-based data in mitigating the effects of climate change in Small Island Developing States.

Key speakers and panelists of the event included: Samaddin Asadov, the Chairman of the Board of Azercosmos; Dr. Ruth Kattumuri, Senior Director, Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development Directorate, The Commonwealth Secretariat; Ekta Dudani, Climate Change Research & Policy Officer, Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development Directorate, The Commonwealth Secretariat; Suresh Yadav, Senior Director of AI, Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Secretariat. 

Since 2014, Azercosmos has been at the forefront of providing Earth Observation services as part of Azerbaijan’s National Space Program. Through satellite-based climate monitoring, Azercosmos generates data-driven reports that support Azerbaijan’s progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Satellite technologies play a critical role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource management, biodiversity conservation, water and sanitation, urban planning, and the creation of sustainable cities.

Over the last decade, Azercosmos has implemented nearly 1,000 projects across various sectors, including agriculture, ecology, urban planning, and cadaster development.

This year marks a significant milestone for Azercosmos as we commenced collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and its member nations, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The agency has developed a comprehensive program leveraging space technology and geographic data to support climate resilience. Currently, Azercosmos is implementing targeted activities in Commonwealth Member States, including Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Papua New Guinea. These initiatives focus on:

·        Drought level monitoring and risk assessment

·        Agricultural and crop classification

·        Forest monitoring

·        Space-based methane concentration monitoring