2026 GEO Symposium / GEO-21 Plenary

26-27 May 26
WMO,
Geneva, Switzerland

Salle Obasi Schedule

26 May

Tuesday,09:00 - 18:45
09:00-09:45
Salle Obasi

2026 GEO Symposium Opening Ceremony

09:45-10:45
Salle Obasi

Town Hall - Exploring New Models for Implementing the Post-2025 GEO Work Programme

As GEO advances the Post-2025 Strategy, there is a growing need to strengthen how the GEO Work Programme (GWP) activities are designed, implemented, evaluated, and sustained. This town hall will explore new and evolving models for implementing GWP activities, with a focus on co-design with users, public-private partnerships, and financially and organizationally sustainable arrangements such as hosting models and distributed governance. Building on practical experiences from across the GEO community, panelists will also demonstrate how measurable results attract investment, guide decision-making, and ensure accountability to users and partners.

The discussion will highlight approaches for defining and using indicators and metrics that capture user value, adoption, sustainability, and scalability of Earth Intelligence solutions. Participants will engage in an interactive dialogue on how GEO can support consistent yet flexible measurement practices across GWP activities, strengthening learning, transparency, and investment readiness while maintaining a strong focus on user needs.

Andiswa Mlisa
Andiswa MlisaModerator,SPC
Antje Hecheltjen
Antje HecheltjenSpeaker,GEO-LDN
Martyn Clark
Martyn ClarkSpeaker,GHRS
Justyna Nicinska
Justyna NicinskaSpeaker,Programme Board
11:15-12:30
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Turning Coordination Into Impact: Delivering coherent country support across agriculture, land, and biodiversity

13:30-14:45
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Addressing Data Gaps and Capacity Needs for Land Restoration and Land Degradation Neutrality in Mountain Regions

15:00-16:15
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Exploration and Implementation Plan for Earth Intelligence Strategy at the National Level (Regional GEO Session)

16:30-17:45
Salle Obasi

Community Event - From Global Data and Partnership to Regional Action: GEO Human Planet and the Regional GEOs (Regional GEO Session)

18:00-18:45
Salle Obasi

Nature Positive Film Screening

27 May

Wednesday,08:45 - 18:00
08:45-10:00
Salle Obasi

Town Hall - Harnessing Innovative Technologies for Earth Intelligence Solutions

This town hall session will spotlight how cutting-edge technologies - such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, digital twins, drones and very-high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery - are transforming Earth Intelligence (EI) into actionable, decision-ready solutions. Drawing on real examples from GEO Work Programme (GWP) activities, panelists will demonstrate how these technologies are being applied to address pressing challenges in areas such as agriculture, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction and Urban Resilience.

The discussion will focus on what it takes to scale technology-enabled EI solutions, including the role of open data and open knowledge, interoperable platforms, partnerships, and investment. Participants will engage in a forward-looking dialogue on how GEO can accelerate the responsible, scalable and sustainable adoption of innovative technologies to maximize impact for users worldwide.

Mark Dowell
Mark DowellModerator,JRC
Sven Gilliams
Sven GilliamsSpeaker,GEOGLAM
Audrey Hasson
Audrey HassonSpeaker,GEO Blue Planet
Grace Saunders-Hogberg
Grace Saunders-HogbergSpeaker,DK-WG
Yifang Ban
Yifang BanSpeaker,AI4EO
Vincent-Henri Peuch
Vincent-Henri PeuchSpeaker,ECMWF
10:15-11:30
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Title TBC (Regional GEO Session)

11:45-13:00
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Bridging Very High-Resolution (VHR) Earth Observations and Climate Finance: From Data to Decisions for Early Warning and DRR (ODOK Session)

14:00-15:15
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Cross-Cutting Partnerships and Data Interoperability: Investing in One Health for a sustainable and healthy future

15:30-16:45
Salle Obasi

Community Event - Title TBC

17:00-18:00
Salle Obasi

Closing Ceremony

Open to all registered attendees

Restricted access: on invitation only

Restricted access: only open for Official GEO Delegates