Next-generation satellites can spot sources of greenhouse gases anywhere on Earth and even help identify the groups that are contributing the most to climate change Organizations globally are launching satellites to monitor methane and CO2 Devices will help pinpoint where gas emissions are happening and how much With climate change projections worsening the satellites could be important By James Pero For Dailymail.com Published: 18:13 BST, 18 April 2019 | Updated: 20:34 BST, 18 April 2019 9 Viewcomments Governments and companies across the world are planning to launch a new generation of satellites capable of monitoring green house gas emissions with unparalleled detail. Currently, more than a dozen governments and companies are in varying stages of launching their own satellites, which will be used to track harmful gases like CO2 and methane, according to Bloomberg. These satellites will not only be able to monitor the amount of gas being released, but will also be able ascertain exactly where and from whom the gas is originating - a skill that proponents say will prove useful in efforts to curb emissions and hold individual actors responsible. Governments and companies across the world are planning to launch a new generation of satellites capable of monitoring green house gas emissions with unparalleled detail. Pictured is the MethaneSAT, being developed by the Environmental Defense Fund While larger government organizations have long been the business of monitoring greenhouse gases -- the aptly named Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite operated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been in orbit since 2009 -- smaller startups are also entering the field and offering a host of improvements. Among the new players is Bluefield Technologies, which advertises its 'microsatellites' as a cost-efficient and accurate way of detecting harmful methane leaks. The company's backpack-sized satellites use NASA technology to give constant monitoring of methane emissions, which it says are capable of pinpointing leaks within 20 meters. Accoding to the company's founder Yotam Ariel, who spoke about Bluefield's goals in a blog post, the application of the startup's technology should appeal not only to those interested in curbing emissions, but also to the producers of fossil fuels. Methane is among the worst greenhouse gases, second only to Co2. According to analysts at the Rhodium Group, $30 billion in revenue is lost every year because of methane leaks. 'Why are the world’s largest energy companies targeting methane? It’s not because they’ve suddenly become environmental activists... it’s not because of government climate change policies either,' wrote Ariel. 'In reality, these oil and gas companies want to eliminate methane leaks from their operations because it’s good for their bottom line.' Bluefield isn't the only player looking to develop the next-generation satellites. Among them is the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) who said that it plans to launch its own satellite, MethaneSAT, in 2021. Once launched, the EDF's technology will make information on methane emissions open to the public The MethaneSAT would also help to achieve its goal of reducing methane emissions by 45 percent by 2025 - a rate that would be the same as closing 1,300 coal-fired power plants over a 20-year period, they say. The EDF recently signed two design firms to help it build the satellite slated for launch in two years. Experts say the new wave of satellites may be more important than ever, as climatologists continue to ramp up their projections of how global warming will impact the Earth in the near-term. A recent analysis by NASA confirmed that 2015, 2016 and 2017 were the hottest years the agency has on record. COULD FEEDING COWS SEAWEED CUT GREENHOUSE GASSES? Scientists believe feeding seaweed to dairy cows may make cattle more climate-friendly. Researchers found a cow's methane emissions were reduced by more than 30 per cent when they ate the ocean algae. In research conducted by the University of California, in August, small amounts of it were mixed into the animals' feed and sweetened with molasses to disguise the salty taste. As a result, methane emissions dropped by almost a third. 'I was extremely surprised when I saw the results,' said Professor Ermias Kebreab, the animal scientist who led the study. 'I wasn't expecting it to be that dramatic with a small amount of seaweed.' The team now plans to conduct a further six-month study of a seaweed-infused diet in beef cattle, starting this month. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility