Switzerland

Switzerland has been a Member of GEO since its inception in 2005 and has maintained active engagement in GEO governance, including through regular participation in GEO Plenary meetings. Switzerland also served on the GEO Executive Committee from 2019 to 2020.

Switzerland supports the GEO Trust Fund through voluntary annual contributions. Furthermore, it supports the GEO Work Programme through technical and financial contributions.

Switzerland is proud to host the GEO Secretariat office at the WMO headquarters in Geneva – a location which creates valuable synergies with WMO, and the many other international organizations located in Geneva.

Switzerland’s participation in GEO involves multiple government departments and institutions. The lead government agency engaging with the GEO is the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the lead environmental authority functioning under the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) within the Swiss government.

Switzerland forms part of the European Regional caucus and engages in selected EuroGEO-related initiatives. Swiss institutions and academia participate in the wider GEO European community and initiatives. 

Swiss agencies, as well as various academia or research organisations, actively contribute to the GEO Post 2025 Work Programme in various programmes and initiatives, providing leadership and expertise to advancing the global GEO agenda.

Through its robust research, state infrastructure, and international partnerships, Switzerland is increasingly able to harness EO capabilities to drive innovation, inform policy, and address pressing environmental and societal challenges.