The European Space Agency has launched a new satellite mission to monitor the carbon cycle.

The new ESA (European Space Agency) mission CarbonSat-2 will be launched into orbit in 2027. The satellite will measure the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) with a resolution of up to 2 km, which will allow the identification of specific emission sources - from industrial zones to forest fires. The data collected by CarbonSat-2 will support the climate policy of the European Union and the implementation of the Green Deal.

The mission is being carried out in partnership with the German DLR and the Italian ASI, with a total budget of 580 million euros. CarbonSat-2 will build on the success of its predecessor from 2022, which has already discovered over 1000 "hot spots" of methane emissions.

Engineering and climate simulations for CarbonSat-2 have already begun, even though the satellite itself will not be launched until 2027. The mission will provide valuable information about the Earth's carbon cycle, which will support efforts to address climate change.