Orbiting the Truth: Space-Based Emissions Reporting

In-Orbit

Are we using every tool available to pull the emergency brake on climate change? This episode dives into the crucial role of space-based monitoring in tackling methane, a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than CO2​ and a critical target for urgent climate action.

Host Dallas Campbell is joined by Spence Seaman from the Environment Agency and Charlotte Massey from the National Physical Laboratory to explore the technological leap that is allowing regulators to pinpoint "super-emitters" from orbit.

Spence explains the Environment Agency's Methane Action Plan and the challenge of regulating fugitive emissions from sectors such as waste and agriculture. Meanwhile, Charlotte details how the NPL is providing the essential measurement science to ensure the accuracy and traceability of this complex satellite data, which is now capable of detecting leaks at the facility scale.

With new satellites, such as Carbon Mapper’s Tanager-1, offering the ability to attribute emissions with a resolution of 50 metres, the data is becoming a game-changer for regulators and policymakers seeking to turn intelligence into enforcement. This conversation is essential for understanding how better data leads to better decisions and how the commercialisation of space is creating new accountability standards globally.

• (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit
• (00:46) - The Importance of Monitoring Methane
• (02:17) - Charlotte Massey on the National Physical Laboratory
• (03:14) - Current State of Methane Emissions
• (06:04) - Advancements in Space-Based Monitoring
• (13:16) - International Collaboration and Standards
• (17:50) - Future of Emissions Monitoring

Spence Seaman: Energy & Resources Lead for Adaptation within the Environmental Permitting Regime (EPR) and Methane Action Plan at the Environment Agency. A veteran environmental regulator, Spence leads the Agency's efforts to focus on methane emissions, driving improved performance, better data quality, and the effective use of regulatory tools like leak detection and repair (LDAR) across industrial sectors.

Charlotte Massey: Strategic Business Development Manager for both Greenhouse Gases and Earth Observation at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Charlotte is responsible for the strategic direction of NPL's measurement science, connecting the UK's core measurement infrastructure to advanced technologies like space-based monitoring to ensure data quality, scientific agreement, and international traceability.

Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website
Environment Agency: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Website
National Physical Laboratory: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.