Egypt plans to launch first satellite to monitor climate change in Africa

Mohammad Hanafi

Oct 30, 2022

A general view shows a palm field suffering from desertification on Oct. 27, 2016, near Morocco's southeastern oasis town of Erfoud. — A general view shows a palm field suffering from desertification on Oct. 27, 2016, near Morocco's southeastern oasis town of Erfoud, north of Er-Rissani in the Sahara Desert. — FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images

CAIRO — The Space Committee of the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers unveiled during a conference held Oct. 22 Egypt’s plan to launch the first satellite specialized in monitoring climate changes in African countries, in partnership with Chinese parties.

The announcement comes in the lead-up to the UN climate conference (COP27) scheduled to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh Nov. 6-18, in what constitutes an important step to confront climate challenges, especially in countries most vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change.

Speaking at the Oct. 22 conference, Ahmed Farag, head of the Space Committee of the Syndicate of Engineers, said that a prototype of the satellite will be displayed in Sharm el-Sheikh in conjunction with the UN climate conference sessions in order to explain the role and goals of this satellite.

Farag added that the launch of the satellite aims to monitor climate changes in Africa, such as the phenomena of desertification, the increase in carbon emissions, water vapor and wind speed, and this is very important and useful for Cairo and all countries of the African continent to support them in facing the negative effects of climate change.