Reflecting on COP28: Four Ways SERVIR Contributes to Climate Action

As COP28 draws to a close in Dubai, the SERVIR program, implemented by NASA, USAID, and key regional partners, is reflecting on its role in addressing the climate crisis. Here are four ways SERVIR is contributing to international climate action for both climate mitigation and adaptation:

1. Making carbon accounting more accessible with S-CAP

The SERVIR Carbon Monitoring Pilot (known as S-CAP) uses NASA’s Earth-observing satellites to help countries and communities analyze and visualize changes in forest carbon stocks. Access to more reliable monitoring of forests and land cover change helps governments get more reliable estimates of the amount of carbon their landscapes are storing or emitting. This helps governments meet international agreements for transparent reporting more easily and accurately.

NASA’s delegation to COP28 this year included Dr. Wenying Su, a senior research scientist studying climate at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Dr. Su presented SERVIR’s contribution to NASA’s climate goals, especially through S-CAP.

Watch the video COP 28: NASA Hyperwall Talk: SERVIR: Connecting Space to Village

2. Connecting more communities with early warnings

Effectively adapting to a changing climate requires that communities are able to reliably forecast weather and potential hazards–with enough prep time to take action. Dr. Benjamin Zaitchik, a principal investigator of SERVIR’s Applied Sciences Team and professor at Johns Hopkins University, and his team use satellite data to help communities in the Amazon better forecast the potential impacts of El Niño and other climate fluctuations. Dr. Zaitchik presented SERVIR’s work at COP while part of the American Geophysical Union’s delegation. 

Making effective forecasts for more than a few days in advance takes a lot of resources, and Zaitchik’s project is just one of several SERVIR efforts designed to help communities get more of a heads up to changes in the climate. This work also contributes to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Early Warning for All initiative.

Watch the video COP 28: Advancing Early Warning Systems and Climate Services for All

3. Getting more out of climate data with AI

Deputy Special Envoy on Climate, Rick Duke, highlighted USAID leadership on using AI-powered early warning systems during his remarks at the AI for Climate Action panel hosted by Google and Boston Consulting Group. He noted how SERVIR uses AI to improve the accuracy of flood forecasting, monitor illegal mining, and enable rapid and informed decisions by governments, communities, and humanitarian groups on climate change and environmental management challenges.

Watch the video AI for Climate Action

4. Supporting the President’s Plan for Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE)

Sharing progress on PREPARE was a major theme throughout COP28. Through SERVIR, USAID and NASA play a key role in supporting PREPARE.  SERVIR works with partner countries and communities to co-produce and use climate information and equip them  with the skills, knowledge, networks, and outlook needed to adapt to climate impacts.  As a result, SERVIR’s services provide key inputs to life-saving flood, fire, drought and landslide early warning systems around the world. 

In addition to USAID and NASA leadership in attendance, SERVIR’s regional partner institutions are key players in climate action and had robust presence and engagement at COP28. Leadership from AGRHYMET, Alliance Bioversity CIAT, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ICIMOD, and ICRISAT convened and participated in dozens of sessions to strengthen  climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.