Some commentators argue that in times of global economic uncertainty governments should be boosting flagging economies by investing in major infrastructure projects. Governments should grasp the opportunities presented to tackle global climate change, at the same time as stimulating the economy, by using this public sector investment to move towards a new low-carbon economy. Investment is needed in low-carbon (popularly referred to as „green?) projects like renewable energy generation, adapting buildings to be more energy efficient, improving transport networks and even building pipelines to carry captured CO2 to undersea storage facilities. No country is untouched by the effects of climate change and everyone acknowledges that the political will has to be found if we are to see any real changes.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is the body which decides the scope and direction of European space initiatives. It is funded by its participating states,currently 18 in number. Each state contributes funding according to its own economic strength. The ESA controls the funding of existing activities such as the Planar rocket and space station projects but is also responsible for the initiation of new projects like the next generation of weather satellites. Some of the ESA projects are compulsory but others are not, in which case member states are free to
choose whether they become involved. There is a direct correlation between the amount of money that a member state agrees to invest in a programme and the amount of benefit it can expect in return through contracts awarded to its domestic space industry. ESA directors are keen to maintain a high level of funding from its member states even in times of global economic downturn since they believe that a longer-term view is needed to preserve the reputation of European space technology.

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