Missions

Resilient Earth

By 2030, the UK will be a leading provider and adopter of space-enabled capabilities to advance nature restoration, reduce emissions and to build inclusive and resilient communities.

Satellite view of a river winding through a brown and green landscape with scattered white clouds.
Why This Mission? What We Do Interventions Get In Touch

MISSION STATEMENT

The goal of the Resilient Earth mission is to maximise the growth potential for sustainable applications for the UK, focusing on those non-space sectors that both support sustainable outcomes and where the UK is globally competitive.

We will do that by increasing the integration of space data, technology and services that monitor and measure status and change within the natural and built environments, enabling better management and mitigating of the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss on the wellbeing and livelihoods of humans.

As a result, by 2030 the UK will be a leading adopter and provider of space-enabled capabilities that advance nature restoration and emissions reduction, including embedding space data in our economy and public services.

View of trees reflecting on a glass building facade, creating a serene blend of architecture and nature.

WHY RESILIENT EARTH?

The demand for sustainability solutions is rising due to climate change, environmental issues, and economic pressures, with the market projected to reach $140 billion by 2030. Space technologies play a key role in addressing sustainability challenges, and the UK is well positioned to lead in this area due to its strengths in Earth Observation (EO), satellite communications, AI, and sustainability leadership.

The EO industry’s global economic value is expected to grow from $270 billion in 2023 to $700 billion by 2030, with UK opportunities exceeding $20 billion annually. Key sectors include finance, infrastructure and renewable energy. The UK is also a leader in environmental policy, especially in areas like climate action, emissions reduction and biodiversity conservation.

BARRIERS

The mission will focus on tackling four key barriers to the uptake of space data and technology into the wider economy thereby unlocking better data, insights, evidence and resilience:

  • Potential users face difficulties in accessing and utilising space data
  • Unclear customer needs and insufficient absorptive capacity lead to imperfect match with space enabled products and services
  • Technological developments are needed to unlock further value and applicability of space technology
  • Current policy environment does not maximise the demand for space products and services

KEY IMPACTS

The Resilient Earth Mission will deliver the following outcomes:

  • Improved management of our natural environment.
  • Accelerated progress towards low carbon industry and infrastructure.
  • UK economic growth via productivity gains, cost avoidance and, later, exports.

INTERVENTIONS

Natural Capital and Traceability

Embeds trusted, space-enabled monitoring and assurance into nature finance and critical mineral supply chains to overcome trust, compliance and procurement barriers that limit market uptake. Aligning policy, financial and industrial demand with high-potential UK capabilities enables adoption and growth, strengthening resilience.

Clean Energy and Infrastructure

Activates demand for space-enabled monitoring and intelligence across clean energy and critical infrastructure markets, reducing procurement and operational barriers to adoption. Aligning infrastructure operators’ needs with high-potential UK space sector supplien.rs unlocks new markets and accelerates uptake in support of the UK’s Clean Power Mission.

GET IN TOUCH

Get in touch with the Resilient Earth team for collaboration enquiries or for further information on our work in this area.

Satellite Applications Catapult