Satellite technologies are already cutting carbon emissions by around 1.5 billion tonnes (1.5 gigatonnes) per year, according to an independent report commissioned by Inmarsat and authored by Globant’s Sustainable Business Studio. This figure highlights the real-world impact of space-based systems on emissions reduction across multiple sectors.
To put that number in perspective, 1.5 billion tonnes is nearly four times the United Kingdom’s total annual emissions in 2021, or roughly equivalent to the lifetime emissions of 50 million cars. The report examines how current and emerging space-enabled capabilities can help the world move toward Net Zero by improving efficiency, enabling better decision-making and supporting low-carbon operations.
The analysis focuses on three high-emission sectors—transport and logistics; agriculture, forestry and other land use; and energy systems—which together account for about 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Based on current technology deployments, if satellite-enabled solutions were adopted widely across these sectors, annual CO2 savings could almost quadruple to as much as 5.5 billion tonnes. That estimate is derived from applying existing satellite technologies at scale to routing, monitoring and optimisation tasks that today still often rely on less efficient methods.
Achieving savings on that scale would represent roughly one-sixth of the emissions reductions the world needs by 2030 to keep global temperature rises below 1.5°C, or about one-third of what would be required to stay below a 2°C rise. These figures underscore the potential contribution of space technologies to one of the most urgent global challenges: limiting climate change.
Globant’s research also suggests the world is currently missing out on up to 4 billion tonnes of immediate CO2 reductions by not fully leveraging satellite capabilities. Practical applications that deliver these savings include more efficient routing and reduced fuel consumption in transport, energy consumption optimisation in power systems, and improved forest-fire detection and prevention—each of which can directly lower emissions and reduce associated climate risks.
Rajeev Suri, Inmarsat’s CEO, commented: “Tackling decarbonisation is a global priority, and space technologies offer significant, tangible opportunities to make progress today. Our report with Globant shows how satellite capabilities can deliver substantial carbon savings now and even greater reductions in the future—directly supporting global efforts to combat climate change.”
Suri added that as world leaders convene at climate summits such as COP27, satellite companies stand ready to collaborate with governments and industry to incorporate space-based data and systems into national and sectoral decarbonisation strategies. He urged policymakers to work with the space sector to gather the data needed to reduce uncertainty and accelerate impactful action to limit Earth’s temperature rise.
Consumer research conducted for Inmarsat’s “What on Earth is the value of space?” initiative found that four in ten people believe space can play a role in solving climate change. That public sentiment aligns with the report’s findings and highlights growing recognition of space technologies as part of a broader climate solution set.
While satellite technologies are not a standalone solution—continued progress on alternative energy sources, energy storage, and other mitigation and adaptation measures is essential—the immediate emissions reductions available from current space capabilities can buy time for those longer-term technologies to scale. Space-enabled efficiencies can therefore be a practical complement to other climate actions.
Looking further ahead, Globant’s report estimates that emerging and nascent space-enabled technologies could unlock another 8.8 billion tonnes of potential annual CO2 savings if widely adopted. That amount equals nearly a quarter (23%) of global emissions in 2021, or the per-capita emissions of roughly 1.8 billion people. Examples of such future savings include:
• In maritime operations, autonomous ships that use advanced satellite navigation and communications could reduce fuel consumption and save about 400 million tonnes of CO2.
• In the energy sector, AI-driven optimisation enabled by space-based data streams could support the energy transition and potentially save around 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 by improving generation, distribution and demand-side management.
• In aviation, technologies such as the European Space Agency’s Iris air-traffic communications system could reduce emissions by an estimated 100 million tonnes if implemented across the global fleet; the first Iris-equipped aircraft were scheduled to fly in early 2023.
Martin Umaran, co-founder and chairman for EMEA at Globant, said: “As a digital-first company, we strive to understand how disruptive technologies can advance sustainability and the race to Net Zero. Our collaboration with Inmarsat combines expertise in technology and satellite communications to deliver actionable thought leadership on decarbonisation.”
The report makes clear that scaling existing satellite solutions and accelerating the deployment of emerging space-enabled technologies could play a meaningful role in global emissions reduction efforts. By integrating satellite data and systems into transport, agriculture, forestry and energy operations, policymakers and industry leaders can unlock immediate and long-term carbon savings while supporting more resilient, efficient and sustainable systems.