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

Honorable Ministers, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In my new role as the incoming President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), it is my distinct pleasure to address the first edition of the GEO Global Forum “The Earth Talks” and the GEO-20 Plenary on behalf of the IAF. I am honored to highlight the IAF’s contributions to GEO/GEOSS and our shared vision for the future.

The IAF has been a proud GEO Participating Organization since 2014. Our two organizations are united by a common vision and mission: advancing space capabilities and Earth Intelligence to support a sustainable future. The IAF looks forward to supporting the GEO Post-2025 Strategy and the GEO Work Programme in the years ahead.

As the world’s leading and most diverse space advocacy body, the IAF comprises 563 members across 81 countries — including major space agencies, industries, research institutions, societies, and associations. This unparalleled network enables us to promote and disseminate GEO’s vital objectives to key stakeholders worldwide.

In recent years, the IAF has further strengthened its commitment to Earth Observation and sustainability, notably through our flagship event, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which gathers over 10,000 international delegates annually. Sustainability has been a core IAC theme:

Both events emphasize the use of space assets to foster a more sustainable life on Earth, with plenary sessions and events dedicated to climate change, Earth observation, sustainability, and climate resilience.

In addition, in the framework of IAC 2025, and with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the IAF will organize a special workshop entitled “Resilient Coasts, Resilient Earth: Innovative Space Solutions for Coastal Resilience and Emergency Management.”

This initiative will showcase the critical role of space-based technologies in advancing SDG 14, promoting ocean stewardship, and safeguarding coastal regions. It will highlight how satellite data, Earth observation missions, and capacity-building efforts can empower coastal nations, especially Small Island Developing States, to tackle challenges like sea-level rise, illegal fishing, and marine pollution through coordinated action.

Furthermore, as reported during GEO Week 2023, the IAF successfully launched in 2023 the first-ever IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC 2023) in Oslo, Norway.

GLOC 2023 made a significant contribution to the global effort to understand and combat climate change through space-based services, applications, and cross-sector collaboration. Its success was driven by the inclusive engagement of diverse stakeholders — space agencies, industry leaders, policymakers, civil society, academia, the next generation, and the media.

Building on this success and recognizing the need to sustain the momentum around collaborative climate action, the IAF is proud to announce that the second edition of the IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC 2026), hosted by the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), will be held from 2–4 June 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.

GEO’s mission is both ambitious and central to the future of our beautiful Blue Planet. The IAF is honoured to be part of this vital global effort.

Thank you