Group on Earth Observations – GEO Global Forum 2025 & GEO-20 Plenary

We would like to express our appreciation to the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat for its continued excellence and unwavering dedication in advancing the GEO mission. We also extend our sincere congratulations to our host, the Government of Italy, for the successful preparations of the GEO Global Forum 2025 and the GEO-20 Plenary.

South Africa recognises GEO as a critical global platform for fostering partnerships, sharing best practices, co-developing solutions, and leveraging Earth observation (EO) for sustainable development. We reaffirm our commitment to the vision and objectives of GEO.

Since hosting the 2023 GEO Ministerial Summit in Cape Town, South Africa has continued to strengthen its Earth observation capabilities to support resilient and sustainable systems, communities, and natural resources. The South African government, through the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), its implementing agencies, academia, and public and private partners, has initiated impactful programmes that address national priorities while contributing to the broader objectives of GEO and AfriGEO.

A key example is the National Earth Observation and Space Secretariat (NEOSS), an initiative of the DSTI managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). NEOSS manages SA-GEO, which serves as South Africa’s national contribution to the Group on Earth Observations and functions as an extension of the GEO framework within the country. As the strategic coordination mechanism for Earth observation activities in South Africa, NEOSS promotes inclusive participation, strengthens alignment with regional and global GEO frameworks, and facilitates collaboration across government, research institutions, and the private sector.

Through SA-GEO, NEOSS has prioritised the establishment of Communities of Practice multi-stakeholder platforms that foster knowledge-sharing and the co-design of EO-based solutions tailored to national and regional needs. A flagship initiative under NEOSS is the development of the SA-GEO Knowledge Hub, a national extension of the GEO Knowledge Hub. This platform curates and disseminates South Africa’s Earth observation datasets, publications, tools, and case studies to enhance accessibility, usability, and impact. As one of the first national instances of this model, South Africa stands ready to share its experience and lessons learned with other countries, contributing to GEO’s vision of a globally interconnected, demand-driven, and locally responsive Earth observation ecosystem.

South Africa’s leadership within GEO continues to promote open and collaborative EO systems across the African continent. These efforts enable informed responses to critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security, while supporting capacity-building, technological innovation, and the advancement of GEO’s vision of sustainable development through shared knowledge.

This year marks South Africa’s presidency of the G20. As part of these engagements, we are hosting the Space20 meetings under the theme “Space as a catalyst for inclusive global economic development: policy, partnership, and prosperity”. These discussions will complement the objectives of GEO by highlighting the value of space-based information in addressing cross-cutting developmental challenges.

We are proud to report that the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) continues to operate a 24/7 Space Weather Regional Warning Centre. This facility provides early warnings to critical infrastructure operators, develops regional skills, and supports risk mitigation measures essential for safeguarding our technological systems and promoting a knowledge-based economy. These capabilities align with the standards and requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), particularly in ensuring the safety and resilience of aviation operations in the face of space weather risks.

We welcome the development of the GEO Post-2025 Strategy Implementation Plan (SIP) , which calls for a transformative and demand-driven GEO Work Programme focused on the co-production of Earth intelligence solutions to address complex global challenges. This strategic shift will significantly enhance informed decision-making and societal empowerment.

As we prepare for the future of GEO through the Post-2025 Strategy, we must ensure that our current flagship initiatives are not overlooked. Programmes such as the Land Degradation Neutrality (GEO-LDN), Global Water Sustainability (GEOGLOWS), Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM), and Oceans and Society remain vital. These initiatives are delivering tangible societal benefits, particularly for developing and vulnerable nations of the Global South.

We therefore support continued investment in and alignment with Regional GEOs, such as AfriGEO, to downscale global activities to national and local implementation. Strengthening these linkages will increase our responsiveness to local challenges and improve coordination with national policies and programmes. We commend GEO for its commitment to reinforcing the role of Regional GEOs as part of the Post-2025 implementation process.