The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) hosted the 40th CEOS Strategic Implementation Team (SIT-40) meeting in Fukuoka, Japan from 8 to 10 April, 2025. Located approximately 1,000 km west of Tokyo, Fukuoka’s local government strongly supports space-related start-ups and universities. 47 participants attended the meeting in person and 33 participants joined remotely.
Participants in the SIT-40 Meeting in Fukuoka, Japan
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss important topics and make decisions to progress a wide range of CEOS activities, including two SIT Chair priorities – (1) Climate Policy Impact of Satellite Data and (2) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Observations from Space, which JAXA has committed to advancing.
Climate Policy Impact of Satellite Data
SIT-40 endorsed the report titled “Lessons Learned and Recommendations from Space Agencies’ Support for the First Global Stocktake” produced by the joint CEOS/CGMS Working Group on Climate. The report uncovered and compiled 9 lessons and 14 recommendations from three different perspectives: GHG flux datasets, stakeholder engagement, and communication. More about the lessons and recommendations can be found in the endorsed document.
The lessons learned will serve as the basis for Issue 2 of the CEOS Global Stocktake (GST) Strategy. The first Issue was published in 2021, with the aim of contributing to the first GST in 2023. During SIT-40, JAXA committed to lead the update, with a draft to be presented at SIT Technical Workshop in September 2025, and endorsement planned for CEOS Plenary in November 2025. With the second Global Stocktake scheduled for 2028, and every five years after that, CEOS will have ample time to prepare based on the updated strategy.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Observations from Space
JAXA’s second SIT Chair priority focuses on enhancing the quality, utility, and transparency of space-based GHG observations. In 2024, the SIT Chair supported the GHG Task Team in updating the GHG Roadmap, and SIT-40 reviewed progress towards the activities outlined in the Roadmap. As the Roadmap focuses on the co-development of fit-for-purpose products in collaboration with stakeholders, SIT-40 also discussed the engagement with key stakeholders, including the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and the WMO Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W).
IMEO is a key end-user of CEOS data to support the monitoring of methane emissions. Engagement with IMEO began in 2021, and the SIT Chair Team and the GHG Task Team are currently working to enhance the relationship. GHG Task Team is also developing “Best Practices for Remote Sensing-based Estimates of Facility-scale Methane Emissions”. IMEO would be an ideal partner to promote the best practices as they serve as a valuable link to the oil and gas industry.
In addition to the GHG Roadmap, SIT-40 also reviewed the progress of the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Roadmap and reviewed the first draft of the Aquatic Carbon Roadmap. Coordination among these three roadmaps was also discussed, as it is an important topic under the priority Climate Policy Impact.
I would like to thank all those who participated in SIT-40 for their excellent contributions, including the effort in preparing for the meeting. Thanks to the cooperation of the CEOS community, the SIT Chair priorities and other important topics are progressing well, and we are on track to achieve tangible success in the remaining six months of the JAXA SIT Chair term.
I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you of my recent appointment as Director of the Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) at JAXA. EORC’s main activities are: 1) Analysis of satellite data and scientific research, 2) Research on observing sensor/Development and operation of the ground data handling system, and 3) Cooperation with related institutions. In this position, I will continue to facilitate the SIT Chair priorities and serve as a member of the SIT Chair Team.
Osamu Ochiai
CEOS SIT Chair Team
JAXA
