Group on Earth Observations

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The Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is a scientific organization that coordinates international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). This initiative aims to create a comprehensive global system for earth observation, which will support decision-making in addressing the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Established in February 2005 by the Third Earth Observation Summit in Brussels, GEO was formed as a response to calls and actions initiated at the First Earth Observation Summit in Washington, D.C. in 2003. The organization's roots can be traced back to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 and the Group of Eight (G8) major industrialized countries, which recognized the need for international cooperation in harnessing earth observation technologies.

GEO is a voluntary partnership between governments and international organizations, providing a framework for its members to develop new projects, coordinate their strategies, and investments. The organization's membership includes 102 governments, including the European Commission, as well as 92 intergovernmental, international, and regional organizations with mandates in earth observation or related issues.

One of GEO's key objectives is to connect existing and planned earth observation systems, supporting the development of new ones where there are notable gaps in providing information related to the environment. The organization aims to create a global public infrastructure for Earth observation consisting of a flexible and distributed network of systems and content providers.

GEO's focus areas include nine priority domains: natural and human-induced disasters, environmental sources of health risks, energy management, climate change and its impacts, water resources, weather forecasting, ecosystem services, and sustainable urban development. The organization also addresses the issue of access to data for these domains, recognizing that this is essential for informed decision-making.

The group's structure includes a rotating director and an alternate director representing each member state, as well as participating organizations with jurisdiction in earth observation or related issues. Members contribute financially to GEO on a voluntary basis, demonstrating their commitment to the organization's goals.

As of January 2016, GEO has expanded its membership to include 101 countries plus the European Commission, recognizing the importance of international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges. The group continues to play a vital role in promoting earth observation and supporting decision-making at the national and international levels.