Group on Earth Observations

About GEO

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is a global collaboration dedicated to understanding our Earth in all its complexity. As a collaborative intergovernmental body, GEO is dedicated to co-producing user-driven Earth Intelligence solutions. By collecting and sharing vital information, ranging from satellite images of forests to oceanic temperature readings and beyond, GEO provides a comprehensive view of our planet’s well-being, allowing us to monitor and safeguard its health. These are not just datasets; they’re the tools that inform decisions, shaping policies and initiatives worldwide that guide society towards a sustainable future.

Why GEO?

Our planet faces challenges that don’t stop at borders. From the pressing issues of climate change, and the alarming loss of biodiversity, to the widespread pollution affecting our lands, skies, and seas, there’s much at stake. While the challenges are integrated, the global response often remains fragmented. Among the ever-growing flood of information and data sources, there’s a noticeable gap in cohesive global partnerships. This is where GEO steps in, striving to unify these fragmented efforts and championing inclusivity in seeking holistic solutions for global challenges.

Digital activities

At GEO, we serve as a collaborative platform where science, policy, and community interests unite for the greater good.

Enhanced coordination: Building on our unique role to lead the development of integrated Earth Observation (EO) solutions, we focus on coordination from global to local levels, sharing beneficial practices and building capacity.

Broad engagement: We actively engage with youth, indigenous communities, women, and other groups to amplify voices whose potential to contribute to EO solutions has not yet been fully realised.

Transformative programmes: Our strategic work programme activities generate high-added value towards policy goals, support sustained services for decision-making, build capacity, and advance equity.

Inclusivity: We are committed to increasing engagement and building capacity, especially in the global south. There is a call to fully address and embed equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) principles in all GEO undertakings.

Digital policy issues

Digital tools and initiatives

The current flagship programmes in the GEO work programme are 
GEO Land Degradation Neutrality, GEO Biodiversity Observation Network, GEO Global Agricultural Monitoring, the Global Forest Observation Initiative, and the Global Observation System for Mercury. To facilitate access to EO applications, we are developing the GEO Knowledge Hub, a digital library. Ministers and ministerial representatives adopted the Group on Earth Observations 2023 Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on 10 November 2023. The Declaration endorses the GEO post-2025 strategy Earth Intelligence for All, charges GEO with developing an implementation plan to guide the execution of the strategy, and reaffirms the integral role of young people as catalysts for sustainable development, among other statements.

GEO assists countries in its region in addressing sustainable development challenges. The vision of the  GEO Indigenous Alliance is to protect and conserve indigenous cultural heritage by using EOs science,  data and technology to create a knowledge base that sustains the Earth we live on. 

GEO has developed a series of tools and initiatives to promote the use of EOs as evidence for decision-making.

• GEO Knowledge Hub
• Earth Observations Risk Toolkit
• Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO-BON)
• The Global Forest Observation Initiative (GFOI)
• The Global Observation System for Mercury
• Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative
• AfriGEO: The African Group on Earth Observations
• AmeriGEO A Framework for Advancing Data Driven Decision Making
• AOGEO (Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations)
• EuroGEO

An important convention (not necessarily covering digital issues directly, but relevant)

• Canberra Declaration (2019)