The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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As the Arctic continues to warm, sea ice is being lost. This is triggering a series of cascading effects for the planet as a whole. The loss of sea ice is arguably the main reason why temperatures are rising faster in the Arctic than elsewhere. As the sea ice melts, it reveals the darker ocean waters, which absorb more heat from the Sun than the more reflective snow and ice.