A Glasgow satellite firm which uses earth-mapping imagery to help tackle climate change will be among 19 Scottish firms attending COP28.
Digital Content Analysis (D-CAT) will head to the UN event in Dubai next week to drum up business and investment into Scotland in a growing climate-tech cluster.
The firm uses satellite imagery for a range of applications including predicting crop yield, monitoring changing temperatures to inform urban development and detecting deforestation and forest fires.
Neil Gray said, wellbeing economy secretary, said: “D-CAT is an innovative Scottish company pushing technological boundaries, using information gathered from satellites to address the climate crisis. From preventing deforestation to predicting farms at risk of losing productivity, these are urgent tasks that the vista from space is helping to provide answers to.
“Scotland is already punching above its weight in terms of performance within the UK space sector. Glasgow is the biggest manufacturer of small satellites outside the US and one fifth of all UK space sector jobs are based in Scotland. I am committed to promoting the opportunities that space presents as a force for good to help create a more sustainable and prosperous economy.
“As the first country to declare a climate emergency in 2019, Scotland continues to strengthen our response to the wider impacts of climate change. No one nation can deliver net zero on its own – international co-operation will be vital – and Scotland’s skilled workforce is leading the way in delivering a just transition, taking advantage of our vast renewable energy potential, not least in wind and low carbon green hydrogen.
“COP28 presents a chance to make progress on shared climate priorities; including sustainable trade and a just transition to a green wellbeing economy. Let us seize the opportunity for good presented by this global gathering of world leaders and decision makers.”
Phil McLachlan, DCAT chief executive officer, said: “D-CAT takes great pride in being selected for the Scottish business delegation to COP28.
“Our esteemed team of top scientists and engineers has pioneered the extraction of cutting-edge climate insights from satellite remote sensing data. These efforts have been central to our creation of unique data products that play a pivotal role in monitoring, reporting, and verifying that effective change is happening on the ground.
“We anticipate that our involvement in the delegation will lead to new collaborative opportunities, accelerating our growth and our mission to provide critical data insights that are vital for achieving the worldwide net zero transition goals.”
The business delegation will participate in a specially designed programme organised by the Scottish Government, Scottish Development International and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
They will have the opportunity to showcase, pitch for investment and network with other businesses in the Blue and Green Zones at COP28 as well as take part in fringe events. They will attend a series of business networking receptions and take part in activity in partnership with Heriot Watt and Strathclyde Universities.
Scottish businesses will visit the Dubai Energy and Water Association, The Dubai Chamber and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, which represent companies in the biggest UAE cities and have opportunities to meet with business leaders attending COP28.