TY - JOUR
T1 - Satellite Measurement of GHG Emissions
T2 - Prospects for Enhancing Transparency and Answerability under International Law
AU - Aganaba-Jeanty, Timiebi
AU - Huggins, Anna
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - Recent technological advancements are facilitating the use of satellite remote-sensing techniques for the measurement of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions. This article evaluates the potential for these satellite-enabled measurements to contribute to transparency and answerability for state emissions, with a focus on international space law and policy, and the Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We show that in the context of the international space governance framework, the dissemination of integrated emissions data sets has the potential to enhance public answerability for the mitigation performance of states. Under the Paris Agreement, there is scope for space-based measurement techniques to provide an independent data source to support verification activities for national emissions inventories, and for aggregated data to be utilized as part of the global stocktake under Article 14. There are, however, a number of impediments to translating these transparency gains into enhanced answerability for states' emissions reduction pledges.
AB - Recent technological advancements are facilitating the use of satellite remote-sensing techniques for the measurement of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions. This article evaluates the potential for these satellite-enabled measurements to contribute to transparency and answerability for state emissions, with a focus on international space law and policy, and the Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We show that in the context of the international space governance framework, the dissemination of integrated emissions data sets has the potential to enhance public answerability for the mitigation performance of states. Under the Paris Agreement, there is scope for space-based measurement techniques to provide an independent data source to support verification activities for national emissions inventories, and for aggregated data to be utilized as part of the global stocktake under Article 14. There are, however, a number of impediments to translating these transparency gains into enhanced answerability for states' emissions reduction pledges.
KW - Accountability
KW - Greenhouse gas emissions
KW - International space law
KW - Paris Agreement
KW - Satellites
KW - Transparency
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U2 - 10.1017/S2047102519000104
DO - 10.1017/S2047102519000104
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85065840340
SN - 2047-1025
VL - 8
SP - 303
EP - 326
JO - Transnational Environmental Law
JF - Transnational Environmental Law
IS - 2
ER -