A message to the GEO community from Secretariat Director Yana Gevorgyan

As we close out GEO’s 20th anniversary year, I want to thank you for the trust and collaboration that make this partnership so special. Twenty years ago, GEO was created around the bold idea that information about the planet should be shared openly so that everyone can see, understand and care for our shared home. Over the years, that vision has been translated into impact-driven partnerships, tools and services, drawing on an ever-expanding wealth of data to deliver practical solutions to global challenges.

This year, once more, has been a defining moment in that journey as our collective efforts have shown, more clearly than ever, the power and necessity of Earth Intelligence.

Together, we have advanced vital global priorities such as achieving early warnings for all, climate adaptation and resilience, ecosystem intelligence, sustainable food and water systems, protecting and restoring nature, and ensuring that the most vulnerable benefit from the science, technology and data that GEO works to open for all.

As we begin implementing the Post-2025 Strategy, we continue to champion the simple but profound principle that open Earth Intelligence is a global public good and must remain accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Throughout all of this, a small but deeply committed GEO Secretariat has worked tirelessly behind the scenes. The team has serviced GEO’s governance, supported development of the new Work Programme, strengthened our shared infrastructure, amplified regional leadership, and helped ensure that your stories, science and solutions are visible.

The continuity of the Secretariat’s services and GEO’s global convening power depend on sustained support, including core funding and other contributions from our Members, Participating Organisations and Associates.

As we look to 2026, the three Rio Convention COPs will require Parties to show tangible, measurable progress – not just commitments, but evidence of delivery against climate, biodiversity and land degradation targets. Governments are being asked to report with greater precision, stronger indicators, and clearer links between policy, investment, and impact. Civil society and the private sector also have a key role to play in strengthening accountability and delivery, by contributing data, transparency, and operational capacity.

This is the opportunity for GEO Members and partners to step forward and champion operational solutions, share results that are working on the ground, and embed Earth Intelligence into national planning, reporting, and decision-making processes. With your leadership, GEO can connect evidence with action, helping countries turn commitments into implementation that delivers real benefits for people and the planet.

On behalf of the GEO Secretariat, thank you for being part of this journey. I wish you a peaceful, restorative winter break and I look forward to working with you in 2026 and seeing many of you at the GEO Symposium and Plenary in May where we will continue to advance Earth Intelligence for All.

~ Yana Gevorgyan, GEO Secretariat Director