Australia

Australia is a founding member of GEO and has played a key role in GEO governance since its inception in 2005. It is among GEO’s donors providing an annual voluntary contribution to the GEO Trust Fund.

Australia hosted the 2019 GEO Week and Ministerial Summit in Canberra and engages broadly in the Post-2025 GEO activities, supporting the implementation of the Strategy and advocating for regional priorities across Oceania.

Australia’s primary engagement in GEO comes through Geoscience Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Bureau of Meteorology and affiliated research agencies.

Australia participates in several GEO Work Programme activities with a focus on biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, and ecosystems management.

Australia’s pioneering development of the Open Data Cube has positioned it as a global leader in Earth observation, with its innovation now supporting transformative initiatives such as Digital Earth Africa and Digital Earth Pacific—enhancing regional resilience and empowering communities to better prepare for and respond to disaster risks. Australia has helped develop DE Africa’s operational tools, including coastal erosion monitoring in Ghana and flood mapping solutions, supporting infrastructure protection and early warning systems. 

Australia has historically co-led the establishment of GFOI with Norway and CEOS, and has been an integral partner in GEO BON and GEO Aquawatch since inception. Australia also actively supports more recent GEO Work Programme activities, including GEO-LDN, where it contributes technical and programmatic expertise into monitoring and mitigating land degradation risks, and GEOGLAM, to strengthen agricultural monitoring and food security.

Below is a list of GEO Work Programme activities Australia is involved in: 

Australia co-leads the Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO), supporting collaborative initiatives that strengthen Earth observation capabilities and promote inclusive engagement across Oceania, including Pacific Island nations.

Australia has developed significant Earth observation capabilities, including:

Priorities include climate and disaster resilience, sustainable resource management, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Development finance is directed to adaptation, mitigation, food security, gender equality, education and health in the region.

Australia legislated a national emissions target of 43% reduction below 2005 levels by 2030, and net-zero by 2050. In line with that target, Australia's priority investments include renewable energy, grid modernisation, and climate-resilient infrastructure. 

Key focus areas: 

Australia is actively engaged in various technical cooperation projects related to Earth observations that extend beyond the GEO Work Programme. These include: