How can SATCOM measure and report its environmental impact and benefits?

3 Ecosystem services

SATCOM also provides ecosystem services, which are the benefits that humans derive from nature, such as climate regulation, disaster prevention, biodiversity conservation, and cultural values. SATCOM can help to monitor, protect, and enhance these services by providing data and information for environmental management, research, and education. For example, SATCOM can support remote sensing, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, and communication applications that can improve the understanding and stewardship of the natural environment. To measure and report the ecosystem services of SATCOM, operators and users can use frameworks and tools such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services, and the Natural Capital Protocol.

4 Social responsibility

Finally, SATCOM has a social responsibility to contribute to the well-being and development of the human society, especially in areas where terrestrial communications are limited or unavailable. SATCOM can enable access to education, health, security, and economic opportunities for people in remote and rural areas, as well as in emergency and conflict situations. SATCOM can also promote human rights, democracy, and peace by facilitating dialogue, participation, and transparency. To measure and report the social responsibility of SATCOM, operators and users can use frameworks and tools such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Business for Social Responsibility.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?