Held every three years, each symposium has proved bigger and better than the last, reflecting the rapidly increasing importance and interest in ‘taking the pulse of our planet from space’.

As our natural world continues to fall victim to the consequences of climate change and environments suffer under the demands of modern life, it has never been more important to monitor change and understand how Earth works as a system. Satellites orbiting Earth are the only real way of getting a full picture of our changing world – which is essential input for international climate and environmental policy.

The Living Planet Symposia bring together scientists and researchers from all over the world to present and discuss the latest findings on Earth science and advances in Earth observation technologies. Moreover, these extraordinary events also offer unique forums for decision-makers to be better equipped with information, for partnerships to be forged and formalised, for space industries to join the conversation, for students to learn, and for all to explore the concepts of New Space such as the digital transformation and commercialisation.

The Living Planet Symposium 2022, which is being organised with the support of the German Aerospace Center DLR, promises to be all of this and more.

ESA’s Acting Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, said, “The upcoming symposium is set be the most all-encompassing event so far. We will explore and demonstrate all manner of benefits and future potential that Earth observation can offer, from understanding Earth systems to forging new partnerships in order to expand user bases and increase access to capital, to empowering the green transition where Earth observation-based services can be integrated into policies and support decisions.”

Walther Pelzer, Member of the DLR Executive Board and Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR, added, “Germany has a long and outstanding tradition in Earth observation. Partnering with ESA, we are looking forward to co-hosting the Living Planet Symposium in Germany. The symposium will be an excellent opportunity to have an international exchange of ideas and examine how Earth observation can further contribute to pressing global challenges such as climate-change, mitigation, food security and implementing sustainable new technologies.”

More details will follow in the coming months, but in the meantime bookmark the Living Planet Symposium 2022 website, which will be updated with information on submitting abstracts, the programme and registration in due course.