Forests across the world act as a major and dynamic store of carbon This store can decrease in size through processes such as deforestation and wildfires but also increase as the trees they contain absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow.

Professor Shaun Quegan of the University of Sheffield is a leading climate scientist working with ESA. Shaun discusses how satellite observations and ESA’s Climate Change Initiative are key to assessing global forest biomass and to inform both climate models and policy makers.