
Where do carbon emissions numbers come from? And how do we know they’re accurate? Get a 30 day free trial to Brilliant here: https://www.brilliant.org/simonclark
While filming another video, I learned about a fascinating technique used to estimate our carbon emissions, and is used by governments around the world to validate their emission figures, and specifically their emission reductions. Many thanks to Dr Clement Albergel at the European Space Agency’s climate office for helping with this video!
Previous video on satellite bias: https://youtu.be/1eKfxLrUMTM
REFERENCES
1. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/annual-co-emissions-by-region
2. https://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/
3. https://ocov2.jpl.nasa.gov/
4. https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/instruments/sciamachy
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_measurements_of_carbon_dioxide
6. https://youtu.be/lSNXvd5VVLU?si=NKIXr4rZt9Mcj-x0
7. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5110
8. https://www.worldometers.info/co2-emissions/co2-emissions-by-country/
9. https://naei.beis.gov.uk/
10. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-transport-consumption-at-regional-and-local-level
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/simonoxfphys
Threads – https://www.threads.net/@simonoxfphys
Insta – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
How do we know what our carbon emissions are? Where does carbon emission data come from? In this video I talk to the European Space Agency’s climate office about how they use satellites to monitor carbon emissions from space, and how satellites can improve how we estimate carbon emissions on the ground.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: Piet Braat, Glen Monks, Artem, Sylvus , Florian Thie, Daniel Chen, Gary Stark, Martina Alini, Vernon Swanepoel, Adam Scott, Felix Winkler, CC, Thomas Charbonnel, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Heijde, Paul H and Linda L, Marcus Bosshard, Dan Sherman, Matthew Powell, Adrian Sand, Dan Nelson, The Cairene on Caffeine, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Daniel Irwin, bitreign33, Thusto , Andy Hartley, Lachlan Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo.
Ilan Henzler, Mark Thomlinson, Dan Lilley, Tristan Schefke, Theo coz 1-letter-name invites ridicule, Gunnstein Lye, Trevor Scheuing, Andy Giesen, Tingus Pingus from Lativia, Mathias Hüttenmüller, RomanConsul, Ave Jonathan Cahyadi, John Bate, Cifer, Chris Conrey, Christian Weckner, Quinn Sinclair, Frida Sørensen, Ned Funnell, Aleksa Stankovic, Meagan, Indira Pranabudi, Sekhalis, Chaotic Brain Person, Simon H., Ben Cooper, Mark Injerd, dryfrog, Justin Warren, Angela Flierman, Alipasha Sadri, Calum Storey, Mattophobia, Riz, The Confusled, Simon Stelling, Gabriele Siino, Bjorn Bakker, Ieuan Williams, Tom Malcolm, GordonV47, Leonard Neamtu, Brady Johnston, Louise K., Rapssack, Kevin O’Connor, Timo Kerremans, Thomas Rintoul, Lars Hubacher, Ashley Wilkins, Samuel Baumgartner, ST0RMW1NG 1, Morten Engsvang, Cio Cio San, Farsight101, Haris Karimjee, K.L, fourthdwarf, Stormchaser007 , Sam Ryan, Felix Freiberger, Chris Field, Kolbrandr, Vinni, Shane O’Brien, Alex, Jesper Koed, Jonathan Craske, Albrecht Striffler, Jack Troup, Sven Ebel, Sean Richards, Peter Reid, Kedar , Alastair Fortune, Mat Allen, Krisztián Török, Colin J. Brown, Mach_D, Keegan Amrine, Simon Donkers, Kodzo , James Bridges, Liam , Wendover Productions, Kendra Johnson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfKqiadS3TE
Climate Change Videos
The future of climate denial
They’re hijacking the whales. Get access to my extra content on Nebula with 40% off at https://go.nebula.tv/simonclark
You can watch my chat with Ian about identifying astroturfed community groups here: https://nebula.tv/videos/simonclark-talking-about-how-to-identify-astroturfed-community-groups-with-my-new-researcher
REFERENCES
1. https://www.notion.so/drsimonclark/rechargenews.com/suppliers/orders-already-in-for-world-s-most-powerful-wind-turbine/2-1-1874493?zephr_sso_ott=9LG4eM
2. https://ourworldindata.org/electricity-mix
3. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/wind
4. https://www.green-oceans.org/
5. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TAZwRijVCg204T1yqepDflcGvs-zaqCX/view
6. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nrMSJOxI6Iqw6HRKtnvWjOkj3tp_gCRE/view
7. https://apnews.com/article/offshore-wind-whales-deaths-trump-5158af7f5bf0f5ef9e1530564ff791a9
8. https://www.desmog.com/2018/07/14/fake-grassroots-campaigns-astroturf-deserve-uprooting/
9. https://www.desmog.com/2024/02/08/revealed-the-climate-denial-network-behind-classic-astroturf-farmers-campaign/
10. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/24/trump-wind-power-threats-homes
11. https://www.eenews.net/articles/internal-emails-reveal-interiors-empire-wind-deliberations/
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Research and fact-checking by Ian L. Campbell
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.
Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, Ethan , FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Guy Markey, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlKRdH6A4
Climate Change Videos
We’re this close to a huge climate win

Learn new skills in maths, science, and data with Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/simonclark (use my link for a 20% discount!)
Let’s talk about methane. Where it comes from, what we can do to bring emissions down, and why there are a lot of reasons for optimism.
My swim fundraiser: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/8823/simonswim/
REFERENCES
1. https://climate.copernicus.eu/climate-indicators/temperature
2. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/349b7eb2-9f26-443a-b191-1f1616955758/GlobalMethaneTracker2025.pdf
3. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad6463
4. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/understanding-methane-emissions
5. https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/carbon-management-and-fossil-fuels/methane-emissions_en
6. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/
7. https://www.methanesat.org/satellite
8. https://timeforch4nge.org/
9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clynre7leyjo
10. https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/
11. https://www.kayrros.com/the-global-methane-pledge-three-years-on-partial-progress-report/
12. https://www.hronikatm.com/2024/11/sputnikovye-dannye-pokazyvayut-chto-na-mestorozhdeniyah-turkmenistana-i-ssha-nablyudaetsya-bolshaya-utechka-metana-chem-soobshhaetsya/
13. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/australias-methane-crisis-unmasking-the-gas-we-cant-ignore/
14. https://www.edfeurope.org/news/2023/15/11/eus-new-landmark-climate-legislation-clamps-down-methane-emissions-energy-imports
15. https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202311/t20231107_1055437.html
16. https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-chinas-new-methane-plan-mean-for-its-climate-goals/
18. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9050us2a.htm
19. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/methane-emissions
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, bitreign33 .
Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, Andy Hartley.
Fred, flakykilowatt, Peter Lee, Bill Keydel, Yorick Droz, Michelle Valentinova, Ian Hamilton, Reid, Kristopher Sicari, Mercure, j51t, David Stone, Daniel Cooney, Richard Swain, Duffman, Claudia Kapp, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Martin, Nick Humphries, Baerbel Winkler, OldGreyWolf, Hannarrrr, Andy Parr, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, KJ Xiao, Tschäff Reisberg, Tobias Ahsbahs, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Victor Gordan, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, John, James Haigh, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Knut Nesheim, AYS , Forever Bulking, Crisan Talpes, Pawel Piwek, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, Diederik Jekel, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Ashley Hauck, Nico Kempe, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Jacob Speelman, Jean-Marc Giffin, Cifer, Christian Weckner, Thomas Charbonnel, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, Dan Sherman, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Haris Karimjee, Alex, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Sean Richards, Michael Belde, Thusto , Lach Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgQuylcfiLk
Climate Change Videos
We don’t know what’s happening with forests

Forests are holding back our ability to see the future… but not for long 🌏 Get an exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/simonclark
Right now we have a 65% error bar on how much carbon trees are emitting to the atmosphere. That’s a huge barrier to our ability to predict the future of the carbon cycle and hence climate change. But all this is going to change with the revolutionary new Biomass satellite from ESA, the European Space Agency.
Previous video about plants and CO2: https://youtu.be/qFA7Sui8w_g
REFERENCES
1. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/figures/summary-for-policymakers/figure-spm-10
2. https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Space_for_our_climate/ESA_unveils_longest-ever_dataset_on_forest_biomass
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
How much carbon do forests draw down? Do forests emit or draw down carbon? Are forests a carbon sink or source? How do you measure carbon uptake by trees? All of these questions are going to be addressed by the new Biomass mission from the European Space Agency. How is ESA measuring forests? What is the Biomass satellite? What is the biomass satellite? Watch this video essay and travel vlog to find out.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, bitreign33 .
Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, Andy Hartley.
Harry Warren, Bill Keydel, Yorick Droz, Gabriel Thurner, Ian Hamilton, Reid, Kristopher Sicari, Mercure, j51t, David Stone, Daniel Cooney, Richard Swain, Duffman, Claudia Kapp, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Martin, Nick Humphries, Baerbel Winkler, OldGreyWolf, Hannarrrr, Andy Parr, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, KJ Xiao, Tschäff Reisberg, Faficzek, Tobias Ahsbahs, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Victor Gordan, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, John, James Haigh, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Knut Nesheim, AYS , Forever Bulking, Crisan Talpes, Pawel Piwek, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, Diederik Jekel, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Samat Galimov, Ashley Hauck, Nico Kempe, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, Sam, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Jacob Speelman, Jean-Marc Giffin, Cifer, Felix Winkler, Christian Weckner, Thomas Charbonnel, Sekhalis, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, Dan Sherman, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Haris Karimjee, Alex, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Sean Richards, Michael Belde, Thusto , Lach, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfqvsVgtThQ
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Spanish-language misinformation on renewable energy spreads online, report shows
-
Climate Change3 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change Videos2 years ago
The toxic gas flares fuelling Nigeria’s climate change – BBC News
-
Greenhouse Gases1 year ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Greenhouse Gases3 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change1 year ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Carbon Footprint2 years agoUS SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rules Spur Renewed Interest in Carbon Credits
-
Renewable Energy4 months ago
US Grid Strain, Possible Allete Sale
