Event description
The urgent need for reductions in greenhouse gases to address climate change, particularly the goal of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, has led to international efforts. Over 150 countries have committed to reducing carbon emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions, and more than 120 nations support the Global Methane Pledge to cut methane emissions substantially by 2030. The World Bank has set ambitious targets, including allocating 45 percent of its annual financing to climate-related projects by 2025 and reducing up to 10 million tons of methane emissions. To track progress, reliable and transparent data is crucial.
Behind these efforts, satellite readings provide a global solution by offering accurate and consistent emissions data. This independent and objective international data collection method can support the World Bank in advising and assisting client countries as better greenhouse gas emissions data will help countries monitor the effectiveness of their climate change mitigation measures, compare emissions profiles, identify best practices, collaborate on global reduction targets, and assess the impact of interventions.
This event focuses on processing and accessing satellite readings of greenhouse gases, emphasizing how post-processed satellite information is publicly available and can offer valuable insights for policymakers.
Speakers
Susmita Dasgupta — Lead Environmental Economist in the Sustainability and Infrastructure Team of the Development Research Group at the World Bank.
Susmita's research focuses on environmental management in developing countries, having done extensive analysis on health hazards of pollution, poverty/environment nexus, setting priorities in pollution control, deforestation, biodiversity loss, impacts of climate change on coastal zones and climate extremes, adaptation to climate change, use of satellite readings for climate change mitigation, cost effective regulations, monitoring and enforcement of regulations. She has conducted research activities in Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cuba, India, and several other countries; has published numerous articles on issues related to development and environment; and taught at the American University (Washington, D.C.) and the State University of New York at Albany. Susmita holds a Bachelor of Science from Presidency College, India; a Master of Science from the University of Calcutta, India; and a Master of Science and a PhD. in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany.
Brian Blankespoor — Senior Geographer in the Development Data Group at the World Bank.
Over the past 16 years at the World Bank, his work focuses on the production of spatial data, integration of large data with automation, and spatial models for economic analysis. He is a coauthor of peer reviewed articles on issues of environment, transportation, and economic geography. Brian is also the co-chair of the World Bank Geospatial Community of Practice, an alternate World Bank representative to United Nations Geospatial Network, and a contributor to the POPGRID Data Collaborative. Prior to the World Bank, he held analytical positions in the private sector and World Wildlife Fund. He is a certified GISP (Geographic Information System Professional) and holds a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Geography from Oregon State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Calvin College.